Strap-toothed whale
species of toothed whale
The strap-toothed beaked whale (Mesoplodon layardii), also known as Layard's beaked whale, is one of the largest members of the Mesoplodon genus, growing to 6.2 m (20 ft) in length and reaching up to 1,300 kg (2,900 lb).
The common and scientific name was given in honor of Edgar Leopold Layard, the curator of the South African Museum, who prepared drawings of a skull and sent them to the British taxonomist John Edward Gray, who described the species in 1865. This species is known for its unique coloration pattern and long, curved teeth that arch over the upper jaw, ultimately restructuring gape. This species inhabits deep subantarctic waters of the southern hemisphere. Strap-toothed whales rely on echolocation clicks, surface at step angles, and tend to travel in small groups. Their diet consists mainly of squid, and males and females hunt the same sized prey. Although not a target for whaling, threats like plastic ingestion, noise pollution, and climate change can be threatening to Mesoplodon layardii.
Description
Adult strap-toothed beaked whales show a distinctive colouration that perhaps makes them one of the most readily-distinguishable beaked whale species. Adults have a white beak, with a pale white 'cape' that extends to halfway between the dorsal fin and head. The dorsal fin is set far back down the body and is white-tipped.
“Strap-toothed whale” enters the record as species of toothed whale. Crown Archives preserves that source wording while asking what Strap-toothed, whale and species can confirm, complicate or overturn.
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Datasets, specimens, observations and peer-reviewed methods provide the appropriate test for the technical claims summarized here. The source revision retrieved here is dated Sep 18, 2026. The linked authority identifier is Q551786. None of the 0 selected statements returned an explicit reference. The first chronological checks are 1865.
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This entry incorporates text from “Strap-toothed whale” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.