Alaska is the clear center of this species’ confirmed US range, with records concentrated in the deep water off the Gulf of Alaska near Prince William Sound and Kenai Fjords, the continental-slope habitat this whale favors over anything close to shore.
Adult males carry a pair of long teeth that erupt from the lower jaw and cross above the closed beak, likely used in fights with rival males and the source of the species’ saber-toothed nickname. It hunts squid and small fish at depth by suction rather than by biting, diving deep and surfacing quietly with little splash, which is part of why it’s so rarely seen even where it’s genuinely present.
Records spike heavily in August, a pattern that likely reflects a single stranding or a concentrated survey effort rather than a true seasonal peak. This is a hard species to detect in any month, since it tends to avoid boats and spends long stretches on deep dives. The IUCN lists it as Near Threatened, a status set with an incomplete population picture given how little of its life happens near the surface.
Full species profile
