What does beaked whale eat?

Quick Answer

Beaked whales (family Ziphiidae) are specialized deep-sea hunters that feed primarily on cephalopods (squid and octopus), deep-water fish, and occasionally crustaceans. Unlike many other toothed whales that grasp prey with their teeth, beaked whales utilize a unique method known as suction feeding.

Because most beaked whales lack functional teeth for chewing—and typically only males possess erupted tusks used for fighting—they rely on generating negative pressure within their mouths. They have two distinct throat grooves that allow their throat to expand rapidly, creating a powerful vacuum that sucks prey directly into their mouth. This feeding strategy allows them to capture slippery, deep-sea prey like the glass squid or lanternfish found in the deep scattering layer of the ocean.

To access these food sources, beaked whales are extreme divers. Species like the Cuvier’s beaked whale can dive nearly 3,000 meters (9,800 feet) down, navigating the pitch-black depths using advanced echolocation to pinpoint individual prey items. For a broader look at marine mammal nutrition, you can explore our general guide to whale diet.

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In-Depth Explanation

Beaked whales are among the most elusive and least understood of all cetaceans, primarily because they spend the vast majority of their lives far offshore and deep underwater. Their dietary habits are a marvel of evolutionary adaptation, tailored specifically for survival in the high-pressure, lightless environment of the deep ocean.

The Teuthophagous Diet (Squid Eaters)

The scientific term for a squid-eating animal is teuthophagous, and beaked whales fit this description perfectly. While the exact diet varies slightly by species and location, stomach content analysis of stranded whales reveals a heavy reliance on deep-sea squid.

• Squid Families: They target specific families of squid that inhabit the mesopelagic (twilight) and bathypelagic (midnight) zones. Common prey includes the Cranchiidae (glass squid), Gonatidae, and Histioteuthidae (cock-eyed squid).
• Deep-Sea Fish: While squid makes up the bulk of their intake, they are opportunistic. They consume deep-sea fish species such as lanternfish (myctophids) and codlings (Moridae).
• Crustaceans: Some larger species, such as the Baird’s beaked whale, have been known to eat deep-sea crustaceans and shrimp, typically found near the seafloor.

The Mechanics of Suction Feeding

One of the most fascinating aspects of the beaked whale’s biology is how it eats. If you look at the skull of a beaked whale, you will notice a distinct lack of rows of teeth, which are common in dolphins or the Sperm Whale.

Instead of biting, beaked whales have evolved to become hydraulic vacuums.

1. Piston Tongue: They possess a large, muscular tongue that can be retracted sharply like a piston.
2. Gular Grooves: On the underside of their throat, they have two V-shaped grooves (similar to, but smaller than, the pleats on a Blue Whale). These grooves allow the floor of the mouth to distend.
3. The Vacuum: When the whale approaches a squid, it retracts its tongue and expands its throat simultaneously. This instantly lowers the pressure inside the mouth, causing water—and the prey—to rush in.

This method is highly effective for capturing soft-bodied prey like squid, which might otherwise slip away from a biting predator. This evolutionary path explains why female beaked whales often have no erupted teeth at all; teeth are simply not necessary for their survival.

Foraging at Extreme Depths

Finding food requires beaked whales to go where few other predators can. They forage in the Deep Scattering Layer, a biomass-rich zone of the ocean that migrates vertically.

• Echolocation: In the absolute darkness of the deep sea, vision is useless. Beaked whales use a distinct form of echolocation (biological sonar). Unlike the rapid clicks of a Killer Whale hunting in shallow water, beaked whales produce frequency-modulated pulses specifically designed to detect prey at close range in deep environments.
• Dive Behavior: A typical foraging dive involves a steep descent, a “bottom phase” where the whale hunts for 30 to 60 minutes, and a slow ascent. During the bottom phase, they emit buzz clicks, indicating they are locking onto and attempting to suck in prey.
• Energy Conservation: To survive these dives, beaked whales manage their oxygen stores with extreme efficiency. Readers interested in physiology often ask how long can whales hold their breath, and beaked whales are the current world record holders, with some dives lasting nearly four hours.

Regional Variations

The diet of a beaked whale is also dictated by geography.

• Northern Bottlenose Whales: Found in the North Atlantic, they prefer the genus Gonatus (squid).
• Baird’s Beaked Whales: In the North Pacific, they are known to feed on bottom-dwelling fish and larger cephalopods.
• Blainville’s Beaked Whales: Often studied near Hawaii and the Bahamas, they hunt in deep water canyons where upwellings bring nutrients and prey together.

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Key Comparisons: Beaked Whales vs. Other Deep Divers

While beaked whales are the champions of depth, they are not the only whales that hunt in the deep ocean. Comparing them to other deep-diving species highlights their unique adaptations.

Feature	Beaked Whales (Ziphiidae)	Sperm Whales (Physeter)	Pilot Whales (Globicephala)
Primary Prey	Deep-sea squid (mostly <1m) & fish	Giant squid, Jumbo squid, Sharks	Squid & fish
Feeding Style	Pure Suction: No biting; inhales prey whole.	Suction & Grasping: Uses teeth to grasp large prey, plus suction.	Grasping & Suction: Uses teeth to grab, but can suction feed.
Teeth	0-2 pairs (tusks in males only).	18-26 pairs on lower jaw only.	40+ conical teeth (upper and lower).
Max Dive Depth	~2,992 m (9,816 ft)	~2,250 m (7,382 ft)	~1,000 m (3,280 ft)
Hunting Duration	Extreme endurance (up to 3+ hours).	Long endurance (up to 90 mins).	Moderate endurance (up to 25 mins).

Dietary Niche Differentiation

• Beaked Whales: They act as “snipers” of the deep, picking off smaller, abundant squid and fish with minimal energy expenditure using suction. They generally avoid the massive squid that Sperm Whales hunt.
• Sperm Whales: As the largest toothed predator, the Sperm Whale targets larger, higher-calorie prey. While they also use suction, their massive size requires a higher caloric intake per dive.
• Pilot Whales: The Pilot Whale is sometimes called the “cheetah of the deep.” They perform high-speed sprints at depth to catch fast-moving squid, contrasting with the slower, stealthier approach of the beaked whale.

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Related Questions

Do beaked whales have teeth?

Yes, but they are unusual. Most beaked whales possess only one or two pairs of teeth, and in most species, these teeth only erupt (poke through the gums) in adult males. These teeth often form tusks and are used exclusively for fighting other males for dominance, rather than for eating. Females and juveniles typically remain “toothless,” proving that teeth are not required for their suction-feeding diet.

What eats a beaked whale?

Despite being deep divers, beaked whales are vulnerable when they surface to breathe. Their primary predators are large sharks and killer whales. If you are researching predator-prey dynamics, you might wonder what do killer whales eat; transient orcas are known to hunt beaked whales, often targeting them during their recovery periods at the surface.

How much does a beaked whale eat per day?

While precise numbers are difficult to obtain due to their elusive nature, scientists estimate that cetaceans of this size consume approximately 2% to 3.5% of their body weight daily. For a 2,500 kg Cuvier’s beaked whale, this equates to roughly 50 to 80 kg (110 to 175 lbs) of squid and fish every day.

Do beaked whales drink water?

Like most marine mammals, beaked whales do not drink seawater, as the salt content would be dehydrating. Instead, they obtain all their necessary fresh water from the food they eat. The metabolization of fat and protein from squid and fish creates water as a byproduct, keeping the whale hydrated.