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Rob Davis, rob@wsorc.com
TWO BEAKED WHALES FOUND WASHED UP
ON THE BEACHES OF UTILA, HONDURAS
BY
DR. LORETTA POTTS
BRYAN BECKER
DR. ROB DAVIS
DIRECTORS OF WSORC (WHALE SHARK AND
OCEANIC RESEARCH CENTER)
January 3, 2008 at 7AM, a whale was found still alive washed up near Chepes beach in Utila, Honduras. The locals that found her, pulled her up on to the beach where she expired. WSORC (Whale Shark and Oceanic Research Center) was called to determine the cause of death and determine what type of whale. Loretta Potts D.V.M., Dr. Rob Davis, Bryan Becker, Rodger Mehrer, all of WSORC, arrived on the scene that morning. Rose and George Gaboural along with Redondo, a local fisherman, aided us in this large task.
The whale was 17 ft./6 m long, weighing approximately 3000 lbs./ 140 kg. We determined the whale to be female due to milk coming from the mammary gland. Her coloring was grey on the dorsum lightening towards the ventral area. White spots were visible on her head and several parts of her body. She had a small head with a short beak with small pointed teeth. V-shaped grooves were noticed at the throat. A small dorsal fin was situated 2/3 back on the body. The fluke was large and rounded at the tips. Small pectoral fins were present in a small depression on the lateral sides of the body. The animal did not show any obvious outside lesions to indicate a cause of death.
Necropsy results gave us more questions than answers but further research using specimens obtained during the necropsy will, hopefully, help us to determine the cause of death and help us prevent further tragedies. The skin was 3 inches thick and normal color and consistency and the muscle also appeared normal. The lungs were pink and healthy. They were approximately 4 ft./ 1.2 m long and 3 ft./ 1 m wide. A large heart the size of a basketball appeared normal also. The trachea contained white froth which may have been due to stress before death. The esophagus was pink and healthy. The diaphragm was large and thick with normal coloring. The stomach had normal coloring except for the third of 3 compartments. This last compartment was distended with air and had areas of hemorrhage throughout. Contents of the stomach were removed and included many plastic pieces of varying sizes from dime size to 6 inch bags and many pieces of squid beaks, this animals main food source. It is important to note that no food was found in the stomach, only the beaks of the squid, telling us that digestion had occurred. The small intestine had consistent hemorrhage along the ventral area of the small intestine into the omentum. These areas were 3-5 inches all along the tract and were very suspicious. The large intestine appeared normal.
The liver had normal color and consistency. Spleen also had normal color and consistency. The kidneys were 3 ft./ 1 m long and 1 ft./0.3 m wide. There was no edema or hemmorage but they were consistently lobulated throughout with large areas of calcification. These calcifications were as hard as rock and were in both kidneys. Samples were taken of all these areas. The bladder was normal on color. Uterus, ovaries and mammary gland, which was filled with milk, all had normal color and consistency.
On January 5, 2008 at 7AM, a second beaked whale washed up on a beach ½ mile from the first whale and 2 days later. This whale was 11 ft./ 3.7 m long and approximately 1000 lbs./ 46 kg. We determined him to be the calf of the first whale. A penis protruding told us this was a male. His coloring was very light grey on the ventral area with a darker grey on the dorsum. Many large lacerations covered the whale which we determined to be post mortem. The calf had the same small head with a small beak but no teeth present. A small blowhole was present with a depression behind it. This whale had small pectoral fins, small dorsal fin 2/3 back on the body and a large fluke with rounded tips, similar to the first whale found.
We performed the necropsy and found many post mortem changes. The whale had been dead for at least a day or 2 and may have died the same time as the first whale but did not wash up until 2 days later. The skin was 2 inches thick and off white. The muscle was deep red and appeared normal. The lungs were hemorrhagic and had a cottage cheese consistency. The heart appeared normal. The trachea also had hemorrhagic froth throughout. The stomach and intestinal tract were severely hemorrhagic also determined to be post mortem. Stomach contents consisted of squid parts in small amounts also squid beaks with no food similar to the female. Liver, spleen, bladder also was red and irritated due to post mortem changes. The kidneys had the same lobulated appearance, very red and the consistency of cottage cheese. A small penis was present.
Our research here at WSORC has determined that both whales belong to the Genus Ziphius, Species cavirostris, common name Cuviers Beaked Whale or Goosebeaked Whale. These whales have a large rounded body with a small head. The forehead slopes to a small beak and the mouth slopes upward giving it a goose-like appearance. The lower jaw extends beyond the upper jaw. This species has small pectoral fins and a small dorsal fin which is located well beyond its mid section. A distinct neck is caused by a depression behind the blowhole. The fluke is large with rounded tips. All these characteristics are consistent with the whales we found.
The calves are born from 6 ft./ 2 m to 10 ft./ 3.2 m in length and 600 lbs./ 28 kg. This is consistent with the second whale found which was 11 ft/ 3.6 m and approximately 1000 lbs./ 46 kg. This calf was old enough to eat food but was still nursing since milk was found in the mammary gland. Sexual maturity is reached when the animal is 17-19 ft. in length for females. Since this female was 17 ft./ 6 m, we estimate the female was young and the calf was still a juvenile.
These whales are distributed in all oceans except the polar regions. They are usually in deep water and avoid shallow coastal areas. They are also known to stay with the sick animals in a pod theoretically, to care for them. Local fisherman reported seeing a pod of these whales, 3-8 of them, close to the harbor of Utila Town. They have not been spotted since the 2 whales were found. Theses whales are very rare and most information has come from the stranded or dead whales found on beaches.
Many samples were taken from these animals so that we may gain more information on these elusive creatures and determine the cause of death. No obvious lesions or gross characteristics have aided in this determination. We are suspicious of the large amount of plastic that was found in the females stomach. Research done by Dr. Colin Mcleod revealed that 50% of beaked whale strandings contained plastics. Also, any type of acoustic or sonar changes can strand and kill these animals. So far, we have not come up with any type of acoustic problem near Utila that would have such devastating consequences. We are hopeful that our specimens will give us more incite so we can help preserve this species.
References
Balcomb, Kenneth; Minasian, Stanley, The Worlds Whales, Smithsonian Books, New York; W.W. Norton 1984
Culik, Boris, Review of Small Cetaceans, Convention of Migratory Species Commission (CMS), December, 2002
Langstaff, Lee, Beaked Whale Workshop Summary, U.S. Marine Mammal Commission, 2004
Leatherwood,S; Reeves,R., Whales and Dolphins, San Francisco: Sierra Club Books, 1983
Mead, James, American Cetacean Society Fact Sheet,American Cetacean Society, 2004
Additional information
Rob Davis, rob@wsorc.com
TWO BEAKED WHALES FOUND WASHED UP
ON THE BEACHES OF UTILA, HONDURAS
BY
DR. LORETTA POTTS
BRYAN BECKER
DR. ROB DAVIS
DIRECTORS OF WSORC (WHALE SHARK AND
OCEANIC RESEARCH CENTER)
January 3, 2008 at 7AM, a whale was found still alive washed up near Chepes beach in Utila, Honduras. The locals that found her, pulled her up on to the beach where she expired. WSORC (Whale Shark and Oceanic Research Center) was called to determine the cause of death and determine what type of whale. Loretta Potts D.V.M., Dr. Rob Davis, Bryan Becker, Rodger Mehrer, all of WSORC, arrived on the scene that morning. Rose and George Gaboural along with Redondo, a local fisherman, aided us in this large task.
The whale was 17 ft./6 m long, weighing approximately 3000 lbs./ 140 kg. We determined the whale to be female due to milk coming from the mammary gland. Her coloring was grey on the dorsum lightening towards the ventral area. White spots were visible on her head and several parts of her body. She had a small head with a short beak with small pointed teeth. V-shaped grooves were noticed at the throat. A small dorsal fin was situated 2/3 back on the body. The fluke was large and rounded at the tips. Small pectoral fins were present in a small depression on the lateral sides of the body. The animal did not show any obvious outside lesions to indicate a cause of death.
Necropsy results gave us more questions than answers but further research using specimens obtained during the necropsy will, hopefully, help us to determine the cause of death and help us prevent further tragedies. The skin was 3 inches thick and normal color and consistency and the muscle also appeared normal. The lungs were pink and healthy. They were approximately 4 ft./ 1.2 m long and 3 ft./ 1 m wide. A large heart the size of a basketball appeared normal also. The trachea contained white froth which may have been due to stress before death. The esophagus was pink and healthy. The diaphragm was large and thick with normal coloring. The stomach had normal coloring except for the third of 3 compartments. This last compartment was distended with air and had areas of hemorrhage throughout. Contents of the stomach were removed and included many plastic pieces of varying sizes from dime size to 6 inch bags and many pieces of squid beaks, this animals main food source. It is important to note that no food was found in the stomach, only the beaks of the squid, telling us that digestion had occurred. The small intestine had consistent hemorrhage along the ventral area of the small intestine into the omentum. These areas were 3-5 inches all along the tract and were very suspicious. The large intestine appeared normal.
The liver had normal color and consistency. Spleen also had normal color and consistency. The kidneys were 3 ft./ 1 m long and 1 ft./0.3 m wide. There was no edema or hemmorage but they were consistently lobulated throughout with large areas of calcification. These calcifications were as hard as rock and were in both kidneys. Samples were taken of all these areas. The bladder was normal on color. Uterus, ovaries and mammary gland, which was filled with milk, all had normal color and consistency.
On January 5, 2008 at 7AM, a second beaked whale washed up on a beach ½ mile from the first whale and 2 days later. This whale was 11 ft./ 3.7 m long and approximately 1000 lbs./ 46 kg. We determined him to be the calf of the first whale. A penis protruding told us this was a male. His coloring was very light grey on the ventral area with a darker grey on the dorsum. Many large lacerations covered the whale which we determined to be post mortem. The calf had the same small head with a small beak but no teeth present. A small blowhole was present with a depression behind it. This whale had small pectoral fins, small dorsal fin 2/3 back on the body and a large fluke with rounded tips, similar to the first whale found.
We performed the necropsy and found many post mortem changes. The whale had been dead for at least a day or 2 and may have died the same time as the first whale but did not wash up until 2 days later. The skin was 2 inches thick and off white. The muscle was deep red and appeared normal. The lungs were hemorrhagic and had a cottage cheese consistency. The heart appeared normal. The trachea also had hemorrhagic froth throughout. The stomach and intestinal tract were severely hemorrhagic also determined to be post mortem. Stomach contents consisted of squid parts in small amounts also squid beaks with no food similar to the female. Liver, spleen, bladder also was red and irritated due to post mortem changes. The kidneys had the same lobulated appearance, very red and the consistency of cottage cheese. A small penis was present.
Our research here at WSORC has determined that both whales belong to the Genus Ziphius, Species cavirostris, common name Cuviers Beaked Whale or Goosebeaked Whale. These whales have a large rounded body with a small head. The forehead slopes to a small beak and the mouth slopes upward giving it a goose-like appearance. The lower jaw extends beyond the upper jaw. This species has small pectoral fins and a small dorsal fin which is located well beyond its mid section. A distinct neck is caused by a depression behind the blowhole. The fluke is large with rounded tips. All these characteristics are consistent with the whales we found.
The calves are born from 6 ft./ 2 m to 10 ft./ 3.2 m in length and 600 lbs./ 28 kg. This is consistent with the second whale found which was 11 ft/ 3.6 m and approximately 1000 lbs./ 46 kg. This calf was old enough to eat food but was still nursing since milk was found in the mammary gland. Sexual maturity is reached when the animal is 17-19 ft. in length for females. Since this female was 17 ft./ 6 m, we estimate the female was young and the calf was still a juvenile.
These whales are distributed in all oceans except the polar regions. They are usually in deep water and avoid shallow coastal areas. They are also known to stay with the sick animals in a pod theoretically, to care for them. Local fisherman reported seeing a pod of these whales, 3-8 of them, close to the harbor of Utila Town. They have not been spotted since the 2 whales were found. Theses whales are very rare and most information has come from the stranded or dead whales found on beaches.
Many samples were taken from these animals so that we may gain more information on these elusive creatures and determine the cause of death. No obvious lesions or gross characteristics have aided in this determination. We are suspicious of the large amount of plastic that was found in the females stomach. Research done by Dr. Colin Mcleod revealed that 50% of beaked whale strandings contained plastics. Also, any type of acoustic or sonar changes can strand and kill these animals. So far, we have not come up with any type of acoustic problem near Utila that would have such devastating consequences. We are hopeful that our specimens will give us more incite so we can help preserve this species.
References
Balcomb, Kenneth; Minasian, Stanley, The Worlds Whales, Smithsonian Books, New York; W.W. Norton 1984
Culik, Boris, Review of Small Cetaceans, Convention of Migratory Species Commission (CMS), December, 2002
Langstaff, Lee, Beaked Whale Workshop Summary, U.S. Marine Mammal Commission, 2004
Leatherwood,S; Reeves,R., Whales and Dolphins, San Francisco: Sierra Club Books, 1983
Mead, James, American Cetacean Society Fact Sheet,American Cetacean Society, 2004
