Brief appearances at the surface reveal only a small part of this deep-diving whale’s life.
- Local names
- Tohora
- Habitat
- Open ocean
About this species
Blainville’s beaked whale belongs to the family Ziphiidae. It feeds on cephalopods and small fish and is one of the more frequently recorded species in the otherwise elusive genus Mesoplodon. The source photograph’s accompanying note describes dives lasting around 20–45 minutes.
The guide describes groups of two to eight individuals and records the species in all five French Polynesian archipelagos. It also stresses how little is known about these whales. Regional occurrence is not evidence of a resident Tetiaroa group.
