Arnoux's beaked whales|| Cetaceans || Current affairs

Arnoux's Beaked Whales

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Context:

A team of researchers found a rare species of whale, Arnoux’s beaked whales that are extremely hard to find.

Arnoux’s Beaked Whale:

Scientific Name: Berardius arnuxii
They are one of the rare cetacean species.
They are generally found in groups of 6 to10, however larger groups of 80-90 individuals have also been recorded.

Distribution:

Distributed only in the Southern Hemisphere.
They are found in deep, cool temperate and subpolar waters, mostly south of 40°S to 78°S.

Features:

Known for remarkable diving abilities.
Their body colour is mostly dark brown with pale colouring on their head and.
Length can go up to 30 feet.
Have a spindle-shaped body and resemble dolphins in appearance.
Because of their four teeth found in their lower jaws they are also called Southern four-toothed Whales.

IUCN Red List:

Least Concern

Cetaceans

●They are a group of marine mammals that include whales, dolphins, and porpoises.

Features:

●Fully aquatic: They spend their entire lives in the ocean and can't survive on land.

●Flippers and flukes: They have two front flippers and tails that are shaped like two horizontal extensions called flukes. The flukes help cetaceans swim.

●Mammals: Cetaceans breathe air, give birth to live young, produce milk, and have hair.

Source:

https://www.wionews.com/science/rare-sea-animals-known-for-hour-long-dives-spotted-in-antarctica-waters-754753

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crustacean

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. Consider the following statements regarding Arnoux’s beaked whales:

These whales are crustacean species.
They are generally found in the northern hemisphere, around the polar region.
Due to higher demand for its liver oil they are categorised as endangered by IUCN.

How many of the above statement is/are correct?

A.Only one

B.Only two

C. All Three

D.None

Answer: D

Explanation:

Statement 1 is incorrect:

●They are one of the rare cetacean species. Not crustaceans Crustaceans which are animals found throughout the ocean but are most numerous in colder oceanic waters near Antarctica and Iceland. Blue whales have adapted to capture crustaceans and have a multi-chambered stomach to break them down.

●Scientific Name: Berardius arnuxii

●They are generally found in groups of 6 to10, however larger groups of 80-90 individuals have also been recorded.

Statement 2 is incorrect:

They are Distributed only in the Southern Hemisphere. They are found in deep, cool temperate and subpolar waters, mostly south of 40°S to 78°S.

Statement 3 is incorrect:

Features:

●Known for remarkable diving abilities.

●Their body colour is mostly dark brown with pale colouring on their head and.

●Length can go up to 30 feet.

●Have a spindle-shaped body and resemble dolphins in appearance.

●Because of their four teeth found in their lower jaws they are also called Southern four-toothed Whales.

IUCN Red List: Least Concern