Records of a New Cetacean Species of the Genus Berardius from Russian Waters

Until recently, it has been believed that only one cetacean species of the genus Berardius, the Baird’s beaked whale (Berardius bairdii Stejneger, 1883), inhabits the northern Pacific Ocean. However, a genetic analysis of tissue samples and morphometric data provide convincing evidence for the existence of a previously undescribed Berardius species sympatric to Baird’s beaked whale, which is referred to as “black” beaked whale. The high probability of occurrence of the black beaked whale in Russian waters is established and its possible range is described in the present study. A genetic analysis of the mitochondrial DNA control region was carried out for 28 new specimens of the genus Berardius from four Far Eastern regions. According to the results, all specimens from the Commander Islands and Kamchatka Gulf belonged to the phylogroup of the Baird’s beaked whale. Of the two dead animals stranded on the Kunashir Island coast, one was identified as Baird’s beaked whale and the other as black beaked whale. Another two black beaked whales were found on the eastern coast of Sakhalin Island. These are the first records of the new Berardius species from the Russian territory confirmed by genetic analysis.