Suborder: Odontoceti Family: Ziphiidae
May to July
ID characteristics
Colour may vary from dark grey to reddish-brown all over the rotund body, except head which is often pale The whitish head has a goose-beak profile with a smooth-sloping forehead to an indistinct beak and no obvious melon.
Short, upturned mouthline which looks like a “smile”
Surface behaviour
Generally avoids boats but might be inquisitive to slow moving vessels Breaching is not very common though it has been observed. Body rises almost vertically and gets completely out of water, before falling down awkwardly,
When swimming fast animals may expose head
Distribution
All around the world, between parallels 60º North and 50º South
Worldwide in tropical, subtropical and temperate waters
Social
Alone (normally old males) or in small groups up to 10 individuals
Diet
Squid and fish
Biometrics
Max length: 7m
Adult weight: 2 to 3 ton
Blow
Short (less than 1 m) and bushy shaped, projected slightly forward. Often not visible.
IUCN Status: Least concerned
Madeira frequency status: Common
Other languages common names
ENG - Goose-beaked Whale GER - Cuvier-Schnabelwal FRA - Baleine de Cuvier, Ziphius, Baleine à bec de Cuvier, Baleine à bec d'oie ESP - Ballenato de Cuvier, Zifio SWE - Småhuvudval DAN - Småhovedet hval ITA - Zifio, Balena dal becco d'oca NED - Dolfijn van Cuvier NOR - Gåsenebbhval, Cuviers nebbhval POL - Wal Cuviera
POR - Baleia de Bico de Cuvier, Zífio, Baleia-bicuda-de-cuvier
