habitat_narrative
Marine
Little is known about the key behavioural and ecological characteristics of beaked whales. Typically, these species occur in deep, offshore waters, and are considered to have long, deep-diving capabilities. Their occurrence is generally associated with topographic features, including slopes, escarpments, canyons and oceanic islands (Macleod et al. 2006). The stomach contents of stranded beaked whales suggest that their primary food source includes deep-water, mesopelagic cephalopods, although MacLeod et al. (2003) found that benthic fish and crustaceans also constitute important prey items for these species. Ziphius and Hyperoodon spp. prey upon significantly larger species, compared to Mesoplodon spp. (MacLeod et al. 2003).Similar to other beaked whales, Z. cavirostris is most frequently associated with deep waters for feeding. Dive durations of 30 minutes (Miyazaki & Wada 1976) and 40 minutes have been recorded. Using suction techniques (Heyning & Mead 1996), they consume mostly deep-sea squid, but also fish and crustaceans (MacLeod et al. 2003), feeding both within the water column as well as near the bottom. Sexual maturity is reached at lengths of over 5.5 m (Omura et al. 1955; Nishiwaki & Oguro 1972), and breeding and calving of this species may span over a number of months (Ross 1984). Calves are born at lengths of approximately 2.6 m.
Ecosystem and cultural services: Marine mammals integrate and reflect ecological variation across large spatial and long temporal scales, and therefore they are prime sentinels of marine ecosystem change; migratory whales may be used to investigate broad-scale shifts in ecosystems (Moore 2008).
