A Cuvier's beaked whale breaches off the coast of El Hierro, in the Canary Islands. The whales, sometimes called "goose-beaked whales" because of their characteristic head shape, were first described by naturalist Georges Cuvier. A consortium of WHOI, University of La Laguna and University of Aarhus scientists and engineers are tagging the whales to learn about their behavior, particularly how they react to sonar testing, which may make them vulnerable to stranding. (Photo by Natacha Aguilar, University of La Laguna, taken under permit from the Canary Islands Government)[back]
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