Please note, this National Red List website contains a subset of data whilst we transition to national focal point driven data uploads. We thank you for your patience with this and welcome national contributors to get in touch to update their national dataset. Terms of Use including citation guidance are found here.

The previous dataset is available via: https://archive.nationalredlist.org/. This site is no longer updated but can help with most enquiries whilst we focus on redevelopment.

NRLD - 96194 | Mesoplodon bidens

Assessment ID
96194
Taxon name
Mesoplodon bidens
Sowerby, 1804
Uploaded by
National Red List Database
Taxonomic information
Scientific name
Mesoplodon bidens
Sowerby, 1804
Common name(s)
Sowerby's Beaked Whale (English), Baleine à bec de Sowerby (Français)
Assessed taxon level
Species
Higher level taxonomic groupings
Vertebrates
Mammals
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
chordata
Class
mammalia
Order
cetacea
Family
ziphiidae
Genus
Mesoplodon
Species
bidens
Species authority
Sowerby, 1804
Location and scope
Specific locality or subnational name or regional name
Canada
Scope (of the Assessment)
National
Countries included within the scope of the assessment
Canada
Country ISO code(s)
CAN
Does the assessment cover a marine EEZ area(s)?
Not_assigned
Conservation Status
Assessed as
Special Concern; Préoccupante
Criteria system used
Modified IUCN

(see Assessment details)

Assessment rationale/justification
This small beaked whale is endemic to the North Atlantic Ocean where it is found mainly in deep, offshore temperate to subarctic waters. Little is known about its biology, fine-scaled distribution, and abundance. It belongs to a family of whales (Ziphiidae) in which acute exposure to intense sounds (especially from military sonar, but also from seismic operations) has led to serious injury and mortality. Seismic operations are currently widespread and military activities involving the use of mid- and low-frequency sonar likely occur at least occasionally in the habitat of this species off Canada's East Coast. Although there is no direct evidence that such sound sources have affected this species, there is strong evidence for lethal effects on individuals of related species. Thus there is reasonable cause for concern about the potential effects on individuals of this species. The potential population-level impacts of this type of mortality are unknown. ; Cette petite baleine à bec est endémique à l'océan Atlantique Nord o๠elle se trouve principalement dans les eaux profondes tempérées à subarctiques au large des cà´tes. Sa biologie, sa répartition à petite échelle et son abondance sont peu connues. L'espèce appartient à une famille de baleines, les Ziphiidés, chez laquelle une exposition aiguà« au bruit intense (en particulier aux sonars militaires, mais également aux activités sismiques) a été à l'origine de graves blessures et de mortalités. Les activités sismiques sont actuellement fréquentes et les activités militaires comportant l'utilisation de sonars à moyenne et à basse fréquence se produisent probablement, du moins occasionnellement, dans l'habitat de cette espèce au large de la cà´te est du Canada. Aucune conséquence de ces sources de bruit sur cette espèce n'a été démontrée directement. Toutefois, les effets létaux des sources de bruit ont été largement démontrés chez des individus d'espèces apparentées. Il est donc raisonnable de présumer l'existence d'effets potentiels similaires chez les individus de cette espèce. Les impacts potentiels au niveau de la population de ce type de mortalité ne sont pas connus.
Assessment details
Year assessed
2006
Assessors/contributors/reviewers listed
Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. Environment Canada.
Criteria system used
Modified IUCN
Reference for methods given
COSEWIC- Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (2006)
Further information
Endemism (according to assessment)
Endemic to region
Not assigned
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
Atlantic Ocean
Is there a map available in assessment?
Not_assigned
Habitat and systems
Ecological system type
Terrestrial
Not_assigned
Freshwater
Not_assigned
Marine
Not_assigned
Threats and conservation measures listed
Threats listed in assessment
No information available
History
Designated Special Concern in April 1989 and in November 2006.; Espèce désignée ' préoccupante ' en avril 1989 et en novembre 2006.
Publication
COSEWIC. 2006. Canadian Wildlife Species at Risk. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. Web site: https://www.canada.ca/en/services/environment/wildlife-plants-species/species-risk.html