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First record of True's beaked whale Mesoplodon mirus in New Zealand

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 January 2014

Rochelle Constantine ,
Emma Carroll ,
Ramari Stewart ,
Don Neale  and
Anton van Helden
Rochelle Constantine*
Affiliation:
School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand Institute of Marine Science, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
Emma Carroll
Affiliation:
School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
Ramari Stewart
Affiliation:
PO Box 15, Whataroa, New Zealand
Don Neale
Affiliation:
Department of Conservation, Hokitika, New Zealand
Anton van Helden
Affiliation:
20 Clunie Avenue, Raumati South, Paraparaumu, New Zealand
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: R. Constantine, School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142, New Zealand email: r.constantine@auckland.ac.nz
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Abstract

On 27 November 2011, a whale resembling a True's beaked whale, Mesoplodon mirus, was found stranded on the South Island of New Zealand. Sequencing of two mitochondrial regions (cytochrome b and mtDNA control region) confirmed species identification as a True's beaked whale that was genetically identified as female. Further examination of the carcass found that the whale was pregnant although decomposition excluded determination of the age of the foetus. This specimen is confirmed as the first record of the species in New Zealand further supporting New Zealand as a whale stranding hotspot.

Keywords

True's beaked whaleMesoplodon mirusNew Zealandgenetic identification
Type
Research Article
Information
Marine Biodiversity Records , Volume 7 , 2014 , e1
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2014 

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