AI Article Synopsis

  • Two distinct types of Berardius whales are recognized by Hokkaido's local whalers, including the common Baird's beaked whale (B. bairdii) and a smaller, entirely black type.
  • Previous genetic studies identified the black type as a separate taxonomic unit within the Berardius group, distinct from known species.
  • A morphological analysis of four individuals revealed that the black type has unique characteristics such as smaller size, shorter beak, and darker color, leading to the conclusion that it is a new species of Berardius.

Article Abstract

Two types of Berardius are recognised by local whalers in Hokkaido, Japan. The first is the ordinary Baird's beaked whale, B. bairdii, whereas the other is much smaller and entirely black. Previous molecular phylogenetic analyses revealed that the black type is one recognisable taxonomic unit within the Berardius clade but is distinct from the two known Berardius species. To determine the characteristics of the black type, we summarised external morphology and skull osteometric data obtained from four individuals, which included three individuals from Hokkaido and one additional individual from the United States National Museum of Natural History collection. The whales differed from all of their congeners by having the following unique characters: a substantially smaller body size of physically mature individuals, proportionately shorter beak, and darker body colour. Thus, we conclude that the whales are a third Berardius species.

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Source
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6717206PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-46703-wDOI Listing

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