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This key is a guide to
the most commonly found stranded whales in
Cornish waters. By far the most common whale to
strand is the pilot whale, followed by the minke whale. Other whale
strandings are very rare events.
Images are only roughly to scale.
Also be aware that juvenile and newborn animals will be smaller!
Long-finned Pilot whale (Globicephala melas)
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Adult length: 3.8-6m |
Adult weight: 1.8-3.5 tonnes |
Teeth: U16-24/L16-24 |
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Frequency: 91 since 1990 |
Last stranding: 2006 |
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Sperm whale (Physeter catodon)
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Adult length: 11-18m |
Adult weight: 20-50 tonnes |
Teeth: U0/L36-50 |
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Frequency: 5 times since 1967 |
Last stranding: 2001 |
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Minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata)
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Adult length: 7-10m |
Adult weight: 5-15 tonnes |
Baleen: 230-360 each
side |
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Frequency: 13 since 1997 |
Last stranding: 2003 |
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Fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus)
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Adult length: 18-22m |
Adult weight: 30-80 tonnes |
Baleen: 260-480 each
side |
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Frequency: 10 since 1781 |
Last stranding: 2004 |
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Cuvier's whale (Ziphius cavirostris)
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Adult length: 5.5-7m |
Adult weight: 2-3 tonnes |
Teeth: U0/L2 |
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Frequency: 6 since 1916 |
Last stranding: 2002 |
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Sowerby's beaked whale (Mesoplodon bidens)
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Adult length: 4-5m |
Adult weight: 1-1.3 tonnes |
Teeth: U0/L2 |
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Frequency: 5 since 1948 |
Last stranding: 2002 |
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