First Live Sighting Reframes the Ginkgo-Toothed Beaked Whale’s Range
Scientists confirmed the first live sighting of the ginkgo-toothed beaked whale (Mesoplodon ginkgodens) off Baja California in 2024 after a five-year search tracking a distinctive BW43 call. Using hydrophones aboard the Pacific Storm, researchers observed a young whale with an adult male, collected a skin biopsy that DNA analysis confirmed the species, and concluded the whales likely inhabit California and northern Baja waters year‑round, prompting a reassessment of the species’ range and highlighting beaked whales’ sensitivity to sonar.
