True's beaked whale

How it lives

True's beaked whales are shy and hard to see, with a low surface profile and an inconspicuous blow. NOAA says they are seen alone or in small groups averaging five to six. Researchers' live sightings around the Azores and Canary Islands (1994 to 2016) were groups of two to four, mostly over deep water of about 600 to 2,500 m near slopes. Colour varies: grey to brownish grey above and paler below, with darker markings around the eyes and lips, and a white patch on the head in some animals. Breeding, growth and lifespan are poorly known.

Where it goes

Most of what is known about its range comes from strandings, from Nova Scotia and Florida across the North Atlantic to Ireland and the Bay of Biscay. Live sightings are rare. A few have been made in deep water near slopes around the Azores and Canary Islands. Records on a coast, such as the United States, say little about where the whales live day to day. Southern Hemisphere animals once counted as this species are now a separate species, Ramari's beaked whale.

We only draw a journey on the map when scientists have tracked it or clearly documented it. For this animal we have not found one yet.

Populations

No population estimate exists. NOAA says the number is unknown because at-sea sightings are so rare. The IUCN lists it as Least Concern (2020), although NOAA's species page still describes it as data deficient. Since 2021 the Southern Hemisphere animals once counted here are a separate species, Ramari's beaked whale (Mesoplodon eueu), so True's beaked whale now means the North Atlantic species. NOAA names ocean noise as the main threat. Wikipedia says it has not been hunted and has not been a victim of fishing nets.