Although modern beaked whales (Ziphiidae) are known to be highly specialized toothed whales that predominantly feed at great depths upon benthic and benthopelagic prey. They typically dive hundreds of meters (up tot 3000 meters!) to hunt for squid and fish. Despite dentition is reduced, they suck prey into their outh. Fossils showed that early ziphiid species had a higher number of teeth, suggesting that they must have captured their prey using their jaws.



An international team of palaentologists, has found in the desert along the southern coast of Perú the first association of a extinct toothed whale (Messapicetus gregarius) with is presumed prey: doxen of a fish species closely related to the epipelagic extant Pacific sardine (Sardinops sagax).

Based on the position of fish individuals along the head and chest regions of the ziphiid, the lack of digestion marks on fish remains and the homogeneous size of individuals, scientists believe that this assemblage results from the death of the whale (possibly via toxin poisoning) shortly after the capture of prey from a single school.



The extinction of M. gregarius and other epipelagic beaked whales may be related to the appearance of true dolphins. The successful diversification of the latter in shallower waters may have driven ziphiids to foraging in deeper areas.

