Enormous Energy Demands Force Baird’s Beaked Whale to Consume Thousands of Deep-Sea Squid

A single whale devours a hidden army of abyssal squid.

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Deep-sea squid form a major component of the diet for many large toothed whales.

Sustaining a body mass exceeding 10 metric tons requires Baird’s beaked whales to capture large quantities of deep-sea squid and fish during extended foraging dives.

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💥 Impact (click to read)

Each descent into the midnight zone can yield multiple prey captures, and over decades a single whale may consume many thousands of cephalopods living far below sunlight penetration.

This predation pressure links one massive mammal to vast deep-sea food webs, making it a significant regulator of squid populations in offshore ecosystems.

Source

Smithsonian Ocean Portal

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