Sowerby's beaked whale Mesoplodon bidens (Sowerby, 1804)

Suborder: Odontoceti Family: Ziphiidae

July and August

ID characteristics

Narrow bodied beaked whale typically bluish grey to slate grey but pale on the underside Small curved dorsal fin with rounded tip, set well back on its body Small head with fairly long slender bill

Adult males have a single pair of small triangular teeth midway along beak