First records of Cuvier’s beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris, G. Cuvier 1823) strandings along the Tunisian coast

• Main Authors: Sami Karaa, Hassen Jerbi, Sondes Marouani, Mohamed Nejmeddine Bradai, Massimiliano Rosso
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2021-01-01
• Series: Marine Biodiversity Records
• Subjects: Cuvier’s beaked whale; First record; Distribution; Mediterranean Sea; Tunisia
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1186/s41200-020-00197-y

Abstract The Cuvier’s beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris) is the only member of the Ziphiidae family with a regular occurrence in the Mediterranean Sea. Much of the knowledge of this species in the Mediterranean has come from stranding data. This note reports the first records of strandings of Cuvier’s beaked whales along the Tunisian coast. The two strandings described are about two specimens, likely adult animals. The first specimens was 530 cm long and beached at El Hicha (Gulf of Gabès, south Tunisia) on March 5th, 2019. The second specimens was 630 cm long and it was reported in Ras Angla (Bizerte, north Tunisia) on June 6th, 2019. Since this species faces multiple threats in the Mediterranean basin, this contribution is intended to extend previous knowledge of this species in the region and to push towards major efforts to be undertaken to fill the knowledge gaps regarding occurrence of Cuvier’s beaked whale along northern Tunisia.