Figure 84.—Views of the heads of dense-beaked whales. Females ([bottom]) and immature males have a slight curvature to the rear of the mouth. As they mature, males ([middle] and [top]) begin to display the two arching prominences near the corners of the mouth which give the characteristic contour to the mouth. The teeth are located in these prominences and are oriented slightly backwards. (Photos from northeastern Florida by W. A. Huck, courtesy of Marineland of Florida [top and middle] and by J. G. Mead [bottom].)
![[bottom]](#1666290077451005871_i_086c.jpg.id-7796698186268980879.wrap-0.html.html){kind=link}
![[middle]](#1666290077451005871_i_086b.jpg.id-6205339454412417555.wrap-0.html.html){kind=link}
![[top]](#1666290077451005871_i_086a.jpg.id-3794188771087727302.wrap-0.html.html){kind=link}
NORTH SEA BEAKED WHALE (T)
Mesoplodon bidens (Sowerby 1804)
Other Common Names
Sowerby's beaked whale.