199420Edited by Drew.110012737layer_information_pageund1449064505146175480300146175480321<p>Growing to a length of up to 9.5 m, the northern bottlenose whale is recognisable by its short, dolphin-like beak, large, bulbous head (flatter in old males), and erect, hooked fin situated two-thirds along the back. On surfacing, it has a bushy blow, 2 m high, and slightly forward-pointing. The chocolate brown or dark grey upper parts become paler with age.</p> <p>The northern bottlenose whale is a beaked whale (family <em>Ziphiidae</em>) that has a very distinctive bulbous melon (forehead) and a dolphin-like beak. Northern bottlenose whales are deep-water specialists found in the North Atlantic Ocean. They occur in small numbers off the Northern Isles and Western Isles of Scotland, and off the west coast of Ireland.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> full_html<p>Growing to a length of up to 9.5 m, the northern bottlenose whale is recognisable by its short, dolphin-like beak, large, bulbous head (flatter in old males), and erect, hooked fin situated two-thirds along the back. On surfacing, it has a bushy blow, 2 m high, and slightly forward-pointing. The chocolate brown or dark grey upper parts become paler with age.</p> <p>The northern bottlenose whale is a beaked whale (family <em>Ziphiidae</em>) that has a very distinctive bulbous melon (forehead) and a dolphin-like beak. Northern bottlenose whales are deep-water specialists found in the North Atlantic Ocean. They occur in small numbers off the Northern Isles and Western Isles of Scotland, and off the west coast of Ireland.</p> <p> </p> 36818<p>Whales, dolphins and porpoises are collectively known as cetaceans. Twenty-three species have been recorded in Scottish waters over the last 25 years. Of these 11 are regularly sighted, the remaining 12 are considered to be vagrants or rare visitors.</p> <p>Cetaceans are very mobile and can range widely with some undertaking large scale seasonal migrations often leaving Scottish waters in the process. Other species are more localised in their distribution. The greatest diversity of species is found off the continental shelf in waters to the north and west of Scotland.</p> full_html<p>Whales, dolphins and porpoises are collectively known as cetaceans. Twenty-three species have been recorded in Scottish waters over the last 25 years. Of these 11 are regularly sighted, the remaining 12 are considered to be vagrants or rare visitors.</p> <p>Cetaceans are very mobile and can range widely with some undertaking large scale seasonal migrations often leaving Scottish waters in the process. Other species are more localised in their distribution. The greatest diversity of species is found off the continental shelf in waters to the north and west of Scotland.</p> 1426751685187519052125213875917sioc:Itemfoaf:Documentdc:datedc:createdxsd:dateTimedate_iso8601dc:modifiedxsd:dateTimedate_iso8601content:encodedsioc:has_creatorrelfoaf:namesioc:num_repliesxsd:integersioc:last_activity_datexsd:dateTimedate_iso8601https://marine.gov.scot/?q=information/northern-bottlenose-whale074511994212737publishedpublished21146175480311146175480374511994212737publishedpublished21146175480311146175480374511994212737publishedpublished211461754803111461754803