Taxonomy

Mesoplodon europaeus | Gervais's Beaked Whale

Distribution

Status

Conservation status


HABITATS DIRECTIVE ARTICLE 17 REPORTING*
RangeUnknown
PopulationUnknown
HabitatUnknown
Future ProspectsUnknown
Overall  Assessment of Conservation StatusUnknown
Overall Trend in Conservation StatusN / A

*No live records for this vagrant species were obtained for Irish waters during the Article 17 reporting period 2007-2012.There have been no recorded live sightings of the species in Irish waters since the Habitats Directive came into force.

Source: NPWS 2013.



IUCN Conservation Status

Ireland
Not Evaluated*
Europe (1)Data deficient
Global (2)Data deficient
Sources: (1) European Mammal Assessment Team 2007; (2) Taylor, B.L. et al 2008.

* 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 III
  • 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
*Ireland is not a signatory.

Native status


The 2007 IUCN European Red List assessment account for this species lists Ireland as one of the countries where it is native, however its U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation Fishing Areas range is listed as Atlantic-northwest and Atlantic-western central, which would not include Irish territorial waters.

Ireland is not listed as one of the countries where Mesoplodon europaeus is native in the 2008 IUCN Gobal Red List assessment account for the species.

Mesoplodon europaeus is considered a vagrant in Irish waters for the purposes of Habitats Directive reporting.

Most records for this species come from the west Atlantic - off the east coast of of the United States of America and the Gulf of Mexico.

Sources: IUCN SSC Cetacean Specialist Group 2007; Taylor, B.L. et al 2008; NPWS, 2013; Harris S., Yalden D.W. 2008.

Species Biology

Identification

  • Max. adult length: 6.7m
  • Max. adult weight: 2.700 tonne
  • Average adult length: 5m
  • Average adult weight: 1.2 tonne
  • Average calf length at birth: 2.2m
  • Average calf weight at birth: 50kg
  • Head: Rounded forehead, which tapers to a rather narrow beak.
  • Dorsal Fin: Small fin located two-thirds along back, varies from blunt and triangular to shark-like.
  • Colouration: Dark blue, blue-grey or black with a slight lightening on the undersides.
  • Markings: In some individuals there is a bright white patch around the genital or anal openings. Older animals also have rake marks over much of the upper body.
The flippers are very low down on the body, are quite narrow and sit into depressions (pockets) on the body wall. The triangular teeth, near the tip of the lower jaws, are diagnostic in adult males and are absent on females and young animals. The body is somewhat laterally compressed.

Source: Irish Whale and Dolphin Group.

Habitat

This species has only rarely been observed alive in the wild. Indications from stomach contents are that the species, in common with other Beaked Whale species, forages in deep waters. Based on recordings it may be that the species is principally one of tropical and sub-tropical waters.

Sources: IUCN SSC Cetacean Specialist Group 2007.

Habitat includes but is not necessarily limited to;

  • Open marine water (MW1)

Sources: IUCN SSC Cetacean Specialist Group 2007; 2008; Fossitt, J.A., 2001.

Reproduction

  • Max. life expectancy:At least 27 years.
  • Average life expectancy: Unknown.
  • Mating Occurs: Unknown.
  • Season of birth: Unknown.
  • Gestation: Unknown.

Source: Irish Whale and Dolphin Group.

Threats faced

In the Article 17 Habitats Directive reporting for the period 2007-2012 no Threats were listed for this species.

Source: NPWS 2013.


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.


Distribution

World distribution(GBIF)

Only recorded in the Atlantic. Most records from warm temperate and subtropical waters. Majority  of records from off the east coast of of the United States of America and the Gulf of Mexico.

There have been stranding on coast on the east of the Atlantic viz., Ireland (Sligo, 1989), the Canaries, Portugal, Spain, the Azores, Mauritania, Guinea-Bissau.

Source: Harris S., Yalden D.W. 2008.

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

As of 2015 the last recording of this species in Irish waters was of a stranded individual in 1989 in Ballysadare, Co. Sligo.

Source: Harris S., Yalden D.W. 2008.

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 Gervais' 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 europaeus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2014.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 20 October 2014.

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 europaeus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2014.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 20 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.








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