>>Named Berardius minimus, the new species measures between 6.2 and 6.9 m (20.3 and 22.6 ft) long, is mostly black, and has a small beak like a dolphin. It was identified from six specimens that were found stranded along the northernmost coast of Japan’s northern island, Hokkaido. Interestingly, local whalers had long told tales of the strange animals, but they were presumed to belong to a known species, Berardius bairdii.

And this may not be the last new species to be found in the vicinity. Locals also tell of another type of whale in the area that they call Karasu, or “crow.” They could of course be referring to the newly-described B. minimus, but the researchers say that there’s also a chance that there’s another new species roaming the northern Japanese waters.<<

https://newatlas.com/science/new-beaked-whale-species-japan/

PermeateFree said:

>>Named Berardius minimus, the new species measures between 6.2 and 6.9 m (20.3 and 22.6 ft) long, is mostly black, and has a small beak like a dolphin. It was identified from six specimens that were found stranded along the northernmost coast of Japan’s northern island, Hokkaido. Interestingly, local whalers had long told tales of the strange animals, but they were presumed to belong to a known species, Berardius bairdii.

And this may not be the last new species to be found in the vicinity. Locals also tell of another type of whale in the area that they call Karasu, or “crow.” They could of course be referring to the newly-described B. minimus, but the researchers say that there’s also a chance that there’s another new species roaming the northern Japanese waters.<<

https://newatlas.com/science/new-beaked-whale-species-japan/

“Beaked whales are one of the least known groups of mammals because of their deep-sea habitat and apparent low abundance. Only three of the 22 species are reasonably well-known. Wikipedia”, two of the three live off the coast of Japan and one in the northern North Atlantic.

mollwollfumble has noticed that almost all these beaked whales are marked “insufficient data” in the Red Book.

“In March 2014, a study by Cascadia Research revealed that beaked whales were recorded to dive at least 2992 m in depth and lasting as long as 137.5 minutes, both mammalian records.”

At deep depths, “lung collapse obviates the exchange of lung gas with blood, likely minimizing” nitrogen narcosis.

“The beaked whales are the second-largest family of cetaceans (after the dolphins). They were one of the first groups to diverge from the ancestral lineage. The earliest known beaked whale fossils date to the Miocene, about 15 million years ago.”

“unique feeding mechanism, suction feeding. Instead of capturing prey with their teeth, beaked whales suck it into their oral cavity. Suction is aided by the throat grooves, which stretch and expand to accommodate food. Their tongues can move very freely. By suddenly retracting the tongue and distending the gular (throat) floor, pressure immediately drops within the mouth, sucking the prey in with the water.”

“Their preferred diet is primarily deep-water squid, but also benthic and benthopelagic fish and some crustaceans, taken near the sea floor.”

Feeding near the sea floor helps to explain the diversification. The ocean surface isn’t particularly diverse, but the sea floor can be.

mollwollfumble said:

PermeateFree said:

>>Named Berardius minimus, the new species measures between 6.2 and 6.9 m (20.3 and 22.6 ft) long, is mostly black, and has a small beak like a dolphin. It was identified from six specimens that were found stranded along the northernmost coast of Japan’s northern island, Hokkaido. Interestingly, local whalers had long told tales of the strange animals, but they were presumed to belong to a known species, Berardius bairdii.

And this may not be the last new species to be found in the vicinity. Locals also tell of another type of whale in the area that they call Karasu, or “crow.” They could of course be referring to the newly-described B. minimus, but the researchers say that there’s also a chance that there’s another new species roaming the northern Japanese waters.<<

https://newatlas.com/science/new-beaked-whale-species-japan/

“Beaked whales are one of the least known groups of mammals because of their deep-sea habitat and apparent low abundance. Only three of the 22 species are reasonably well-known. Wikipedia”, two of the three live off the coast of Japan and one in the northern North Atlantic.

mollwollfumble has noticed that almost all these beaked whales are marked “insufficient data” in the Red Book.

“In March 2014, a study by Cascadia Research revealed that beaked whales were recorded to dive at least 2992 m in depth and lasting as long as 137.5 minutes, both mammalian records.”

At deep depths, “lung collapse obviates the exchange of lung gas with blood, likely minimizing” nitrogen narcosis.

“The beaked whales are the second-largest family of cetaceans (after the dolphins). They were one of the first groups to diverge from the ancestral lineage. The earliest known beaked whale fossils date to the Miocene, about 15 million years ago.”

“unique feeding mechanism, suction feeding. Instead of capturing prey with their teeth, beaked whales suck it into their oral cavity. Suction is aided by the throat grooves, which stretch and expand to accommodate food. Their tongues can move very freely. By suddenly retracting the tongue and distending the gular (throat) floor, pressure immediately drops within the mouth, sucking the prey in with the water.”

“Their preferred diet is primarily deep-water squid, but also benthic and benthopelagic fish and some crustaceans, taken near the sea floor.”

Feeding near the sea floor helps to explain the diversification. The ocean surface isn’t particularly diverse, but the sea floor can be.

Just how deep is 2992 metres?

https://xkcd.com/1040/large/

It’s surprising that a new species of whale has been discovered in Japanese waters.