This site is indebted to the writings of Lyall Watson (amongst others), for his amazing and well-researched book Whales of the World, illustrated by Tom Ritchie.

SOUTHERN BOTTLENOSE WHALE Hyperoodon planifrons

Description Medium; length averages 7.6 m (25 ft) for males, with a maximum of 9 m (30 ft), and 6.7 m (22 ft) for females, with a maximum of 7.3 m (24 ft); calves are about 2.75 m (9 ft) at birth. Weight averages about 3,600 kg (3 tons) with a possible maximum of 4,000 kg (4.5 tons).
H. planifrons lives up to its name. It is flat fronted; the melon on the head has developed, at least in the older males, to such an extent that the forehead rises vertically from the beak and sweeps back in a broad curve to the flat top of the head; making this southern whale even more bottle-nosed than its northern relative.

The body shape is similar, somewhat cylindrical, with the greatest girth just behind the flippers, then tapering off to the tail. Neither a glimpse at sea nor a diagrammatic lateral view can give a true impression of how sleek and tubular these whales really are. Behind the bulbous head, the body seems to be absurdly long, finally broadening into a surprisingly large tail fluke. The flippers too are relatively large. The fin, which is higher than that of the northern species (up to 40 cm or 15 inches), less robust and with a tendency to curl a little at the tip, is placed rather nearer to the tail.

The colouring seems to be a metallic deep grey, lightening to bluish on the flanks. The forehead, back, flippers and flukes are dark, but the throat and belly are rather pale. Sightings of live animals are rare, but it is likely that in life the colours are warmer and browner, fading to blues and greys only after death. There are sometimes tooth scars on the backs of adult males.

Field Identification We cannot speak from first-hand experience. The Southern Bottlenose Whale does not seem to share the curiosity of its northern relative; there are no confirmed reports of it approaching ships in the same fearless way.
Like the northern form, it probably rises steeply to breathe, showing the melon and the beak above the surface. The blow is similar, low and strong and globular instead of finely sprayed. The blowhole, back and fin all become visible simultaneously, and often remain so, as the whale surges along at the surface between dives. The Southern Bottlenose breathes every 10-20 seconds for several minutes and then lifts its flukes and dives, disappearing for 5-15 minutes. It seems to be a deep diver and can probably, like the Northern Bottlenose, submerge for much longer periods.

It appears that the Southern Bottlenose Whale may form groups of 30-40. In these circumstances, they could be confused with the pilot whales (Globicephala melaena 49 and Globicephala macrorhynchus 50). Both have prominently rounded heads which appear above the surface, but the fin of the pilot whales is placed in the centre of the back and is very much more broadly based. The Southern Bottlenose Whales are likely also to appear less glossy black and more mottled blue grey or brown in colour.

Almost everything we know about the Bottlenose Whale has been learned from a dozen strandings. Identification of adult males is relatively simple, but toothless females and young present problems. When teeth are present, they are placed right on the tip of the lower jaw and there is normally only 1 pair, larger than those of the Northern Bottlenose, conical and 5 cm (2 inches) long. Those of the females are deeply embedded in the gums.
There are 47 vertebrae, with all the first 7 bones in the neck fused into a single unit. The first 7 of 9 pairs of ribs are double headed.

As far as we can tell from the few stomachs that have been examined, Southern Bottlenose Whales feed entirely on squid and cuttlefish. They may well be more social than the northern form and, being more tropical, possibly less tied to a fixed breeding season. Nothing is known of their behaviour.
Status There are a few reports of Southern Bottlenoses, probably large solitary males, being seen in the Antarctic by whaling fleets, and at least one record of a kill there. Apart from these, a handful of strandings and a few unconfirmed sightings off the west coast of South America, we know nothing of this whale's status. Pending further study, it must be classified as rare.