Friday Squid Blogging: Beaked Whales Feed on Squid
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Summary
Scientists discovered that the Travers’ beaked whale, the rarest species of whale on the planet, has a diet primarily comprising squid, just like other beaked whales.
The Mesoplodon traversii whale is an extremely elusive deep-sea species that was only recently characterised through scientific analysis.
Following its discovery on a beach in New Zealand, researchers analysed the whale’s stomach contents and discovered it had recently been feeding on various types of squid.
This discovery, says researcher Emma Carroll, helps to better understand deep-sea ecosystems and how they function, adding that “the fact we have now found squids are likely a significant component of this rare whale’s diet, provides a useful insight into the ecology of these mysterious whales.”
The finding underlines the importance of squid in the diet of beaked whales, a phenomenon seen elsewhere.