by: Dagmar Fertl
The Greek word xiphias for "swordfish" or ziphos for "sword" and the Greek word cavus for "hollow" as well as the Latin word rostrum for "beak".
This species is relatively robust with a short, poorly-defined beak. A pair of v-shaped throat grooves is present. One diagnostic feature is the slight concavity on the top of the head, which becomes more noticeable in older animals. The dorsal fin, set about two-thirds the way back from the snout tip, and it is small and falcate. The body is dark gray to light rusty brown, often covered with light scratches and circular marks, with lighter areas on head and belly. A single pair of forward-pointing teeth at the tip of the lower jaw erupt only in adult males, and may be exposed outside the closed mouth in large males.
They generally reach lengths of up to 7.5 m and weights of nearly 3000 kg.
This species of whale lives on the majority of the African coastline.
These animals are found mostly in small groups. They prefer deep water and feed mostly on deep sea squid, fish, and some crustaceans.
Human impacts in African waters are unknown, although small numbers are deliberately taken in the Mediterranean Sea.
Insufficiently known.
Jefferson, T.A. Leatherwood, S. and M.A. Webber. 1994. FAO Species Identification Guide, Marine Mammals of the World. FAO of the United Nations, Rome.
Leatherwood, S. and R.R. Reeves. 1987. The Sierra Club Handbook of Whales and Dolphins. Sierra Club Books, San Fransisco.
Wang J.Y., Chou L.S., Yao C.J., Neimanis A.S., and W.H. Chou. Records of Cuvier's beaked whales (Ziphius cavirostris) from Taiwan, Republic of China. Asian Marine Biology 12(0). 1995 (1996). 111-118.
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