Record of a specimen of Shepherd´s beaked whale (Tasmacetus shepherdi) from the coast of Santa Cruz, Argentina, with notes on age determination

FLORENCIA GRANDI,; ALEJANDRO BUREN,; ALBERTO CRESPO, ENRIQUE; ANIBAL GARCÍA, NESTOR; MARTÍN SVENDSEN, GUILLERMO; DANS, SILVANA LAURA

The Latin American Journal of Aquatic Mammals

Sociedad Latinoamericana de Especialistas en Mamíferos Acuáticos

Lugar: Río de Janeiro; Año: 2005 vol. 4 p. 1 - 4

1676-7497

In September 2003 a specimen of Shepherd’s beaked whale, Tasmacetus shepherdi, was found stranded on a beach close to Santa Cruz lighthouse (50º 09’ S, 68º 21’ W) in the vicinity of Puerto Punta Quilla (Provincia de Santa Cruz, Argentina). The animal was in advanced decomposition. According to information given by the local ranger who found the specimen, the animal stranded in early 2003. However, body measurements could be recorded and skin samples could be taken. At the time of field dissection all the teeth remaining in the mouth were extracted in order to prevent subsequent loss.The specimen was determined as a male because the teeth were eroded, evidence of eruption in life. Vertebral epiphyseal fusion was complete and the pulp cavities of the teeth was filled, indicating that the animal was physically adult. Most of the standard and craniometrical measurements of the Punta Quilla specimen were similar to those of the Península Valdés specimen, although the latter was a female. It was also similar to those of the males stranded in New Zealand. Fifty one teeth were collected, but according to the alveoli the total number of teeth would be 91. All teeth showed considerable wear. Many of them were truncated at their tips, and some had grooves where opposing teeth had worn against them. The alveoli count is very similar to those of the Birding’s Flat animal, and lower than those recorded for the other two specimens. Considering one dentinal growth layer group per year in this species, the specimen of Punta Quilla was 23 years old.