Observations on Deraniyagala's beaked whale (Mesoplodon hotaula) in the South China Sea based on the first confirmed live sightings

• DOI: 10.1111/mms.13178
• Publication Date: 2024-09-05T11:48:10Z
• Authors: Mingming Liu; Wenzhi Lin; Binshuai Liu; Shenglan Chen; Mingli Lin; Lijun Dong; Hui Kang; Mingyue Ouyang; Zixin Yang; Xiaoyu Huang; Massimiliano Rosso; L. Todd Pusser; John Y. Wang; Robert L. Pitman; Songhai Li
• Keywords: Beaked whale; Cetacea

Abstract Deraniyagala's beaked whale, Mesoplodon hotaula , was previously known from eight published strandings and no confirmed live sightings, making it one of the least‐known cetaceans. We conducted six cetacean survey cruises in South China Sea between 2019 2023, during 120 sea‐days we recorded 12 sightings unidentified . From biopsy samples acoustic recordings, five were subsequently as M. hotaula. Using photographs, provide first field descriptions observations this species. The calf/juvenile has a distinctive facial coloration dorsal striping pattern that appear to be diagnostic among Indo‐Pacific ; adult males, dark rostrum distinctively white‐tipped beak ginkgo‐toothed ginkgodens distinguish these similar‐looking, partially sympatric Mean group size small (3.0, n = 5), with preference for deep (2,156 m, warm (30.3°C, 3) water. update distribution species, present evidence fishery interactions, document reported mixed‐species group: juvenile Blainville's whale densirostris associated four These identify potentially important area almost completely unknown