Ziphius cavirostris

G. Cuvier, 1823

Cuvier's Beaked Whale

Taxonomy

Subclass : Theria
Infraclass : Placentalia
Magnorder : Boreoeutheria
Superorder : Laurasiatheria
Order : Artiodactyla
Suborder : Whippomorpha
Infraorder : Cetacea
Parvorder : Odontoceti
Superfamily : Ziphioidea
Family : Ziphiidae
Genus : Ziphius

Species status

Living
Found in the wild
Listed in MSW3 2005

Authority citation

Rech. Oss. Foss., Nouv. ed., vol. 5, 1, 350

Original name as described

ziphius cavirostris

Other common names

Goose-beaked Whale · Goosebeak Whale

Type material

MNHN-ZM-AC-A3554

Type kind

holotype

Type locality

France, "dans le département des Bouches-du-Rhône, entre de Fos et l'embouchure du Galégeon" (= between Fos and the mouth of the Galégeon River).

Biogeographic realm

Marine

Country distribution

Albania · American Samoa · Anguilla · Antigua and Barbuda · Argentina · Aruba · Australia · Bahamas · Bangladesh · Barbados · Belize · Benin · Bermuda · Bonaire · Sint Eustatius · Saba · Brazil · Brunei · Cape Verde · Cambodia · Cameroon · Canada · Cayman Islands · Chile · China · Cocos Islands · Colombia · Comoros · Republic of the Congo · Democratic Republic of the Congo · Cook Islands · Costa Rica · Croatia · Cuba · Curaçao · Cote d'Ivoire · Denmark · Djibouti · Dominica · Dominican Republic · Ecuador · El Salvador · Equatorial Guinea · Falkland Islands · Fiji · France · French Guiana · French Polynesia · Gabon · Gambia · Germany · Ghana · Greece · Grenada · Guadeloupe · Guam · Guatemala · Guinea · Guinea-Bissau · Guyana · Haiti · Honduras · India · Indonesia · Iran · Ireland · Italy · Jamaica · Japan · Kenya · Kiribati · South Korea · Kuwait · Liberia · Madagascar · Malaysia · Maldives · Marshall Islands · Martinique · Mauritania · Mexico · Micronesia · Morocco · Mozambique · Myanmar · Namibia · Nauru · Netherlands · New Caledonia · New Zealand · Nicaragua · Nigeria · Niue · Northern Marianas · Norway · Oman · Pakistan · Palau · Panama · Papua New Guinea · Peru · Philippines · Pitcairn · Portugal · Puerto Rico · Russia · Saint Helena · Saint Kitts and Nevis · Saint Lucia · Sint Maarten · Saint Vincent and the Grenadines · Samoa · Senegal · Seychelles · Sierra Leone · Singapore · Solomon Islands · Somalia · South Africa · Spain · Sri Lanka · Sudan · Suriname · Sweden · Taiwan · Tanzania · Thailand · East Timor · Togo · Tonga · Trinidad and Tobago · United Kingdom · United States · Uruguay · Vanuatu · Venezuela · Vietnam · British Virgin Islands · United States Virgin Islands · Wallis and Futuna · Yemen · Algeria? · Angola? · Antarctica? · Belgium? · Bosnia and Herzegovina? · Cyprus? · Egypt? · Eritrea? · Iceland? · Israel? · North Korea? · Lebanon? · Libya? · Malta? · Mauritius? · Mayotte? · Montenegro? · Montserrat? · Norfolk Island? · Palestine? · Qatar? · Réunion? · São Tomé and Príncipe? · Saudi Arabia? · Slovenia? · Syria? · Tokelau? · Tunisia? · Turkey? · Turks and Caicos Islands? · Tuvalu? · United Arab Emirates?

Subregion distribution

USA(AK,HI,CA,OR?,WA?,FL?,GA?,AL?,LA?,MI?,TX?,SC?,NC?,VA?,DC?,MD?,DE?,NJ?,NY?,CT?,RI?,MA?)

Distribution notes

Wide distribution, but mostly in deeper oceanic waters, generally rare sightings and strandings. May be resident population off of NC.

Distribution references

Stanistreet, J., D.P. Nowacek, S. Baumann-Pickering, J.T. Bell, D.M. Cholewiak, J.A. Hildebrand, L.E. Hodge, H.B. Moors-Murphy, S.M. Van Parijs and A.J. Read. 2017. Using passive acoustic monitoring to document the distribution of beaked whale species in the western North Atlantic Ocean. Can. J. of Fish. & Aq. Sci. 74:2098–2109. Foley, H.J. 2018. Spatial ecology and movement patterns of deep-diving odontocetes in the western North Atlantic ocean. M.S. Thesis. Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, N.C. State University, Raleigh, NC.

IUCN Red List status

Least Concern

Species Permalink

https://www.mammaldiversity.org/taxon/1006485

Country distribution map

The map below provides a general overview. Most species inhabit only specific regions within countries. Known distribution is shown in green and predicted distribution is in yellow. Hover over the highlighted regions to see the country name.

Names and synonyms

Present and past (if available) associated names to the species. Click on a name to view its details. If the list is long, scroll down to see more.

Hyperoodon Capensis

(J. E. Gray, 1865)

Family

Ziphiidae

Root name

capensis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

BMNH:Mamm:1869.4.5.1

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

https://data.nhm.ac.uk/object/d3096154-2229-43ff-9b68-12fbdb4b2b16 https://data.nhm.ac.uk/object/f5209d9a-5449-4bb2-b519-44dc04d72c1f

Authority page

359

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/28497314

Authority publication

Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London

Name usages

Mead & Brownell (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/9684)

Ziphius indicus

P. J. Van Beneden, 1864

Family

Ziphiidae

Root name

indicus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

IRSNB 4027

Type kind

holotype

Authority page

23

Authority publication

Mémoires Couronnés et des Savants Étrangers de l'Académie Royale des Sciences, Lettres et Beaux-Arts de Belgique

Name usages

Mead & Brownell (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/9684)

Delphinus Desmaresti

(A. Risso, 1826)

Family

Ziphiidae

Root name

desmaresti

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

lost (number not known)

Type kind

holotype

Authority page

24

Authority publication

Paris

Delphinus Philippii

(Cocco, 1846)

Family

Ziphiidae

Root name

philippii

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

lost (number not known)

Type kind

holotype

Authority page

104

Authority publication

Archiv für Naturgeschichte

Hyperoodon Doumetii

(J. E. Gray, 1847)

Family

Ziphiidae

Root name

doumetii

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

lost (number not known)

Type kind

holotype

Authority page

26

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/6957457

Authority publication

London

Delphinorhynchus australis

(Burmeister, 1865)

Family

Ziphiidae

Root name

australis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

lost (number not known)

Type kind

holotype

Authority page

262

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/33035142

Authority publication

Allgemeine Zeitschrift für die gesammten Naturwissenschaften

Name usages

Mead & Brownell (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/9684)

Ziphiorrhynchus cryptodon

(Burmeister, 1866)

Family

Ziphiidae

Root name

cryptodon

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

lost (number not known)

Type kind

holotype

Authority page

94

Authority publication

Revista Farmaceutica

Epiodon patachonicum

(Burmeister, 1867)

Family

Ziphiidae

Root name

patachonicus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

nomen_novum

Type

lost (number not known)

Type kind

holotype

Authority page

5

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/33035931

Authority publication

Allgemeine Zeitschrift für die gesammten Naturwissenschaften

Hyperoodon Gervaisii

(Duvernoy, 1851)

Family

Ziphiidae

Root name

gervaisii

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

MNHN-ZM-AC-A3553

Type kind

holotype

Authority page

49, 67

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/13432830

Authority publication

Annales des sciences naturelles

Epiodon heraultii

(J. E. Gray, 1872)

Family

Ziphiidae

Root name

heraultii

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

MNHN-ZM-AC-A3553

Type kind

holotype

Authority page

469

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/25172712

Authority publication

Annals and Magazine of Natural History

ziphius cavirostris

G. Cuvier, 1823

Family

Ziphiidae

Root name

cavirostris

Validity status

species

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

MNHN-ZM-AC-A3554

Type kind

holotype

Authority page

352

Authority publication

Ossemens fossiles

Name usages

  1. Lesson (1842:201) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/36812)
  2. True (1885:590, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/7306384) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/35039)
  3. Lahille (1899:198, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/35147064) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/37834)
  4. Corbet & Hill (1980:113) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/63069)
  5. Honacki, Kinman & Koeppl (1982:302) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/63071)
  6. Mead & Brownell (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/9684)
  7. Mittermeier & Wilson (2014:347) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67175)
  8. Mammal Diversity Database (2018:ID #23211) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67336)
  9. Mammal Diversity Database (2019:ID #23211) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67337)
  10. Mammal Diversity Database (2024, https://www.mammaldiversity.org/taxon/1006485) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67250)
  11. Schmidly, Bradley, Yancey & Bradley (2024:63) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67259)
  12. International Union for the Conservation of Nature (2024, https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/23211/50379111) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67246)

Epiodon chathamiensis

(Hector, 1873)

Family

Ziphiidae

Root name

chathamiensis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

NMNZ MM000021

Type kind

holotype

Authority page

105

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/25121031

Authority publication

Annals and Magazine of Natural History

Ziphius novæ-zealandiæ

von Haast, 1876

Family

Ziphiidae

Root name

novaezealandiae

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

NMNZ MM001380

Type kind

holotype

Authority page

466

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/29099679

Authority publication

Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London

Delphinus savii

(Richiardi, 1873)

Family

Ziphiidae

Root name

savii

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

Pisa (number not known)

Type kind

holotype

Authority page

pl. 3, 7, 8

Authority publication

Archivio Zoologica Italiana

Ziphius grebnitzkii

Stejneger, 1883

Family

Ziphiidae

Root name

grebnitzkii

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

USNM:MAMM:A20993

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/3f208f7e1-c8e0-4920-b9bb-98041e3ba19a

Authority page

77

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/15714988

Authority publication

Proceedings of the United States National Museum

Name usages

True (1885:590, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/7306384) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/35039)

Hyperodon semijunctus

(Cope, 1865)

Family

Ziphiidae

Root name

semijunctus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

USNM:MAMM:A21975

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/33ff57829-5048-4fd5-bc7a-b1cd73ad8407

Authority page

280

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/1682377

Authority publication

Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia

Delphinus Desmarestii

(Lesson, 1842)

Family

Ziphiidae

Root name

desmarestii

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination · incorrect_subsequent_spelling

Authority page

200

Authority publication

Paris

Name usages

Lesson (1842:200) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/36812)

Hyperodon semijunctus

(Cope, 1865)

Family

Ziphiidae

Root name

semijunctus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

nomen_nudum

Authority page

274

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/1682371

Authority publication

Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia

Ziphius semijunctus

F. W. True, 1885

Family

Ziphiidae

Root name

semijunctus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

590

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/7306384

Authority publication

Proceedings of the United States National Museum

Name usages

True (1885:590, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/7306384) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/35039)

Hypodon Desmarestii

(Haldeman, 1841)

Family

Ziphiidae

Root name

desmarestii

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

incorrectsubsequentspelling

Authority page

127

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/1779229

Authority publication

Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia

Hyperoodon Desmarestii

(J. E. Gray, 1847)

Family

Ziphiidae

Root name

desmarestii

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination · incorrect_subsequent_spelling

Authority page

27

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/6957458

Authority publication

London

Ziphius aresques

J. E. Gray, 1871

Family

Ziphiidae

Root name

aresques

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

notusedas_valid

Authority page

98

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/15945531

Authority publication

British Museum Catalogue

Ziphius decavirostris

J. E. Gray, 1871

Family

Ziphiidae

Root name

decavirostris

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

notusedas_valid

Authority page

98

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/15945531

Authority publication

British Museum Catalogue

Petrorhynchus mediterraneus

(J. E. Gray, 1871)

Family

Ziphiidae

Root name

mediterraneus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

98

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/15945531

Authority publication

British Museum Catalogue

Ziphius chathamensis

Flower, 1885

Family

Ziphiidae

Root name

chathamensis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

incorrectsubsequentspelling

Authority page

10

Authority publication

British Museum Catalogue

Name usages

Mead & Brownell (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/9684)

Ziphius chatamensis

Lahille, 1899

Family

Ziphiidae

Root name

chatamensis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

incorrectsubsequentspelling

Authority page

198

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/35147064

Authority publication

Primera Reunión del Congreso Científico Latino Americano

Name usages

Lahille (1899:198, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/35147064) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/37834)

Please send any edits, corrections, or unfilled data (including full citations) to mammaldiversity [at] gmail [dot] com.