Taxonomy
Mesoplodon mirus | True's Beaked Whale
Distribution
Status
Conservation status
| HABITATS DIRECTIVE ARTICLE 17 REPORTING |
| Range | Unknown |
| Population | Unknown |
| Habitat | Unknown |
| Future Prospects | Unknown |
| Overall Assessment of Conservation Status | Unknown |
| Overall Trend in Conservation Status | N / A |
No live records for this vagrant species were obtained for Irish waters during the Article 17 reporting period 2007-2012
Source: NPWS 2013.
IUCN Conservation Status |
| Ireland | Not Evaluated* |
| Europe (1) | Data deficient |
| Global (2) | Data deficient |
* There is currently no Irish Red List for Marine Mammals.
Legal status
Protected by the following legal instruments:
- Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC) Annex IV
- Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (Bern Convention) Appendix II
- Agreement on the Conservation of Small Cetaceans in the Baltic, North East Atlantic, Irish and North Seas (ASCOBANS)*
- Convention on Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Appendix II
- Council Regulation (EC) No. 812/2004
- Wildlife Act (1976)
- Wildlife (Amendment) Act (2000)
- Whale Fisheries Act 1937
Native status
The 2008 IUCN Global Red List assessment account for this species lists Ireland as one of the countries where it is native, however Mesoplodon mirus is considered a vagrant in Irish waters for the purposes of Habitats Directive reporting.
Sources: Taylor, B.L. et al 2008; NPWS 2013.
There have been very few live records from European waters (only 1 in Irish waters). Most records are of stranded dead individuals (approximately 10 strandings in Europe in 99 years from 1899, 9 of those strandings in Ireland). It is possible that these stranded animals may have drifted into Irish waters on ocean currents.
Sources: Harris S., Yalden D.W. 2008; Irish Whale and Dolphin Group.
Species Biology
Identification
- Maximum length adult: 6m
- Maximum weight adult: 1.5 tonnes
- Average adult length: 5m
- Average adult weight: 1.3 tonnnes.
- Average calf birth-length: 2m
- Average calf birth-weight: 136kg
- Blow: Barely visible.
- Head: Relatively small head with a bulging forehead. A depression is found in the top of the head behind the blowhole.
- Dorsal Fin: The dorsal fin is small and slightly sickle-shaped. It is situated roughly two-thirds of the way along the body.
- Colouration: Blue to dark grey upper body, with lighter patches on the underside and throat. The colour may vary to an overall grey or brownish colour.
- Markings: Some stranded animals have been reported with yellow, purple, hazel or sienna spots on the lower flanks. Adult males have white rake marks (made by the teeth of other males) on the sides and back. There is a dark patch around the eye.
- The single animal photographed alive in European waters was identified through its characteristic teeth. The lower jaw is slightly protruding with two teeth visible near the tip of the lower jaw in adult males. They have a medium sized beak.
Source: Irish Whale and Dolphin Group.
Habitat
No information available for this species but other Beaked Whales are most often recorded in waters over deep ocean basins &c.
Source: Harris S., Yalden D.W. 2008.
Habitat includes but is not necessarily limited to;
- Open marine water (MW1)
Sources: Harris S.,Yalden D.W., 2008; Fossitt, J.A., 2001.
Reproduction
No information currently available.
Threats faced
In the Article 17 Habitats Directive reporting for the period 2007-2012 no Threats were listed for this species.
Source: NPWS 2013.
In both the 2007 European Regional IUCN Red List Assessment and the 2012 Global IUCN Red List Assessment it is acknowledged that so little is known about this species that it is difficult to identify threats. It is assumed that some of the threats applicable to other beaked whales would apply to this species. The possible threats suggested are;
- Fishing & Harvesting Aquatic Resources [this would include entanglement in fishing gear].
- Noise pollution [this would include sonar from military and other sources as well as seismic exploration as well as other anthropogenic noise sources].
- Marine Water Pollution [this would refer particularly to the ingestion of plastic bags &c.].
Sources: European Mammal Assessment Team 2007; Taylor, B.L. et al 2008.
Conservation actions
In the Article 17 Habitats Directive reporting for the period 2007-2012 no Conservation Measures in place or being implemented during the period were listed for this species.
Source: NPWS 2013.
In a 2009 Cetacean Action Plan for Ireland a total of 41 Actions were identified as part of the plan. The plan and the 2013 review of the plan are available from the NPWS website.
Source: DEHLG 2009.
Distribution
World distribution(GBIF)
Recorded from the North Atlantic - east and west, as well as southern Indian Ocean and Atlantic coast of Brazil. Generally not seen within 30° north or south of the equator.
Source: European Mammal Assessment team 2007.
Accuracy of world distribution shown in the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) map below will be constrained by, amongst other factors, data held but not shared by countries and organizations not participating in the GBIF.
Irish distribution
Although Ireland has had a number of strandings, it is possible that these drifted dead on the Gulf Stream from mid-Atlantic waters. Seven of the ten strandings in Northern Europe occurred on the Irish West Coast and these animals are probably relatively common in deep water canyons beyond the shelf edge off our west coast.
Source: Irish Whale and Dolphin Group.
A reported sighting during European Seabirds at Sea survey in May of 2001 was located over the continental slope west of the Porcupine Bank at the south east end of the Rockall Trough.
Temporal change
Records submitted to Data Centre in 2024
The following map is interactive. If you would prefer to view it full screen then click here.
How can you help
The National Biodiversity Data Centre is trying to
improve our knowledge on the distribution of True's Beaked Whale in
Ireland. Should you observe this species, please submit
sightings to add to the database. Detailed observations will assist us
gaining a better insight into where the species
is most abundant in Ireland and we might also be able to detect
regional variations. Please submit any sightings and photographs at:
http://records.biodiversityireland.ie/index.php
All
records submitted online can be viewed on Google Maps – once checked
and validated these will be added to the database and made available for
conservation and research.
Further information
For further information contact Dr. Liam Lysaght llysaght@biodiversityireland.ie
References
Publications
DEHLG 2009 Conservation Plan for Cetaceans in Irish waters.
Fossitt, J.A. (2001) A Guide to Habitats in Ireland. The Heritage Council
Harris S., Yalden D.W. (2008). Mammals of the British Isles :Handbook, 4th Edition. The Mammal Society.
Species account by IUCN SSC Cetacean Specialist Group; regional assessment by European Mammal Assessment team 2007. Mesoplodon mirus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2014.3. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 21 January 2015.
NPWS (2013) The Status of EU Protected Habitats and Species in Ireland. Species Assessments Volume 3. Version 1.0. Unpublished Report, National Parks & Wildlife Services. Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Dublin, Ireland.
NPWS (2013a) Delivery Schedule for Actions listed in the Conservation Plan for Cetaceans in Irish waters – June 2013
Taylor, B.L., Baird, R., Barlow, J., Dawson, S.M., Ford, J., Mead, J.G., Notarbartolo di Sciara, G., Wade, P. & Pitman, R.L. 2008. Mesoplodon mirus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2014.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 16 October 2014.
Wall, D., Murray, C., O’Brien, J., Kavanagh, L., Wilson, C., Ryan, C., Glanville, B., Williams, D., Enlander, I., O’Connor, I., McGrath, D., Whooley, P. & Berrow, S. (2013). Atlas of the Distribution and Relative Abundance of Marine Mammals in Irish Offshore Waters: 2005 – 2011. Irish Whale and Dolphin Group, Kilrush, Co. Clare.