Ziphius cavirostris Cuvier, 1823

Stranded alve, died subsequently. Originally reported as Mesoplodon mirus.

Teeth show in photos.

Yamada e-mail 5 VI 2016

Öztürk, A. A., Dede, A., Tonay, A. M., Danyer, E., Danyer, A. I, Özbek, Ö. E., Ercan, D., Öztürk, B. (2016.). "The first record of True's beaked whale, Mesoplodon mirus, from the Mediterranean coast of Turkey during multiple strandings in June 2016. ." Journal of Black Sea/Mediterranean Environment 22(2): 194-199. Abstract: Three strandings of beaked whales (Ziphiidae) were observed and reported along the Mediterranean coast of Turkey in June 2016. The first specimen (male, body length: 526 cm) was live stranding in Gökova Gulf on 3 June. The second specimen (male, body length: 510 cm) found stranded on Seferihisar on the Aegean Sea coast on 5 June. The third specimen (male, body length: 472+cm) was found on Yakacık, Gazipaşa on 20 June. They all had two teeth exposed at the tip of the lower jaw. The mouth line and the slender shape of the body are distinct from the Cuvier's beaked whale, Ziphius cavirostris, which is a common species in the Mediterranean. The preliminary identification of the species based on the external morphology is True's beaked whale, Mesoplodon mirus True, 1913 which is the new record for the Mediterranean Sea, at least for the first two specimens. The genetic information, however, is strongly needed for the confirmation of this species identification. The reason for these strandings was not prominent but the military activities which took place in the eastern Mediterranean-Aegean region may have some relations.

From: Amaha Ozturk Ayaka [mailto:ayakamaha@hotmail.co.jp] Sent: Friday, October 14, 2016 12:47 PM To: yamada@kahaku.go.jp; Robert L Brownell Cc: Dee Allen ; Mead, James ; atonay@istanbul.edu.tr Subject: Re: beaked whale identifications - Turkey Dear all sorry for my late reply. we have the result of mtDNA but still waiting for core DNA result. but so far they are all identified as Ziphius. We are writing a correction paper now. Best, Ayaka Amaha Ozturk Istanbul University and Turkish Marine Research Foundation (TUDAV) From: Amaha Ozturk Ayaka [mailto:ayakamaha@hotmail.co.jp] Sent: Friday, October 14, 2016 12:47 PM To: yamada@kahaku.go.jp; Robert L Brownell Cc: Dee Allen ; Mead, James ; atonay@istanbul.edu.tr Subject: Re: beaked whale identifications - Turkey Dear all sorry for my late reply. we have the result of mtDNA but still waiting for core DNA result. but so far they are all identified as Ziphius. We are writing a correction paper now.

26 Jul 2019

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