New records of beaked whales, genus Mesoplodon, from New Zealand (Cetacea: Ziphiidae)

Abstract

Three species of beaked whales, Mesoplodon peruvianus, M ginkgodens and M densirostns, are newly recorded from New Zealand on the basis of stranded specimens M peruvianus was previously known from the eastern tropical Pacific, M ginkgodens from the sub‐tropical and tropical waters of the wider Pacific and equatorial Indian Oceans, and M densirostns from Australian and other warm temperate to tropical waters Diagnostic skull characters for the three species are discussed and illustrated Previous records of M ginkgodens from the Chatham Islands, and M densirostns from the east coast of New Zealand and Macquane Island, are incorrect. © 1999 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.