Baird’s Beaked Whale Male Skull Replica Cast

Description

Baird’s beaked whale male skull replica cast measures 59.0″L x 31.0″W x 20.0″H. Museum-quality polyurethane resin replica cast from California Academy of Sciences specimen: CAS MAM 23747; Berardius bairdii; Male; Field #RTB 1152; 22 July 1985; 4.5 mi S of Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz County, California. 2-part skull (separate cranium and mandible). 1:1 scale (Life size), Made in USA. Oversize shipment – Please call 509-951-3557 for shipping.

Baird’s beaked whale or Berardius bairdi is found in the northern Pacific Ocean, the Sea of Japan and the southern part of the Sea of Okhotsk. Specimens have been recorded as far north as the Bering Sea and as far south as the Baja California peninsula.

Baird’s beaked whale is the largest of the beaked whales, has an estimated population around 30,000 individuals, sometimes reaching a maximum length of 42 feet or 12.8 m. This species may be the only large beaked whale found in the North Pacific.

Baird’s beaked whale are unique among toothed whales in that most species only have one pair of teeth. The teeth are tusk-like, but are only visible in males, which are presumed to use these teeth in combat for females for reproductive rights. In females, the teeth do not develop and remain hidden in the gum tissues.

The throats of all beaked whales have a bilaterally paired set of grooves that are associated with their unique feeding mechanism, suction feeding.

Instead of capturing prey with their teeth, beaked whales suck it into their oral cavity. Suction is aided by the throat grooves, which stretch and expand to accommodate food.

Their tongues can move very freely. By suddenly retracting the tongue and distending the gular (throat) floor, pressure immediately drops within the mouth, sucking the prey in with the water.

Dietary information is available from stomach contents analyses of stranded Bairds Beaked Whales or Berardius bairdi and from whaling operations.

Their preferred diet is primarily deep water squid, but also benthic and benthopelagic fish and some crustaceans, mostly taken near the sea floor.

Baird’s beaked whale facts:

Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
CITES Appendix I (CITES)
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Infraorder: Cetacea
Family: Ziphiidae
Genus: Berardius
Species: B. bairdii
Binomial name: Berardius bairdii

Complete your skeletal study by pairing this skull with our Baird’s beaked whale flipper and ulna replica cast.

This beaked whale skull provides a fascinating anatomical contrast to our Scale 1:1 pygmy sperm whale skeleton replica cast.

The Baird’s beaked whale skull replica are authentic, 1:1 scale (Life size) reproductions molded from CAS MAM 23747; Berardius bairdii; Male; Field #RTB 1152; 22 July 1985; 4.5 mi S of Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz County, California.