Least Beaked Whale

The least beaked whale, also called Sato's beaked whale, was formally described in 2019. It resembles Baird's beaked whale but is substantially smaller, reaching a documented maximum of 6.9m, with a more spindle-shaped body, darker colour and proportionately shorter beak. Small flippers, a rear-set dorsal fin and tail flukes without a central notch further define its outline (Yamada et al. 2019).

The species is known from a small number of strandings, captures and sightings in the western and central North Pacific, including Hokkaido. Cookie-cutter shark scars are conspicuous on the dark skin. Its feeding ecology, breeding and social organization remain largely unknown, so these are not inferred from better-studied beaked whales. Current evidence supports a cold-temperate oceanic distribution (Yamada et al. 2019; NOAA 2023 stock assessment).