Their beak is shaped like that of a goose, hence their alternative name - goose-beaked whale. They are possibly the most abundant beaked whale.

Subspecies
None.

Life span
Unknown.

Statistics
Body length: 5.5-7m, Weight: 2-3 tonnes.

Physical description
Cuvier's beaked whales vary in colour from black, brown and white. They have long, circular scars and usually have a pale head. The mouthline is short and upturned, and the head is the shape of a goose beak. They have small teeth at the tip of the jaw.

Distribution
Cuvier's beaked whales live in all oceans, in both tropical and temperate regions.

Diet
They feed on squid and fish.

Behaviour
This species lives in groups of 1-10.

Conservation status
Cuvier's beaked whales are classified as Data Deficient by the 2000 Red List. The global threats that they face are not fully understood, but they are likely to include hunting, prey depletion, pollution and entanglement in nets.