Deraniyagala's Beaked Whale

About This Species

An extremely rare species known from only seven stranded specimens until recent South China Sea sightings. Growing to less than 5m in length with blue-grey coloration and distinctive pale, mottled cheeks and white lower lip. Found in tropical waters of the Indian and Pacific Oceans around equatorial islands. Like other beaked whales, feeds on deep-water squid during long foraging dives, with recent observations showing dive durations up to 1.8 hours.