STRANDING OF A SPECIMEN OF CRAY'S .BEAKED WHALE
AT PUERTO PIRAMIDES (CHUBUT, ARGENTINA)
AND ITS GONADAL APPRAISALGUSTAVO A. DELHON*, ENRIQUE A. CRESPO**,AND GUSTAVO PAGNONI**
ABSTRACTA single specimen of Mesoplodon grayi was stranded at Puerto
Piramides (42°35'S, 64°53'W), on the Patagonian coast (Chubut, Argentina). Some external body measurements were taken in situ and the skull
was preserved. A list of skull measurements is given. Histological study ofthe testes showed the specimen to be sexually mature. Noteworthy was thepresence of adipocytes in the interstitial tissue, which can be easily confusedwith Leydig's cells. Age could not be determined since the lower jaws were
missing and the teeth could not be recovered.
INTRODUCTION

Previous records of Gray's whale have been summarized by Goodall (1978),
Lichter and Hooper (1983) and Lichter (in press), for the Argentine coast,
including two specimens near the site of the present stranding of Peninsula
Valdes (True, 1910; Merm6z, 1979) (Fig. 1).
Other species of Ziphiidae have also been found in this area, such as a
Tasman whale (Tasmacetus shepherdi) reported by Mead and Payne (1975).
The present paper presents external and skull measurements and ahistological study of the testes.
MATERIAL AND METHODS

Features of the stranding
We were informed of the stranding by the Gamekeeper of the Sealion
Reserve at Punta Piramides, Chubut, Argentina. A medium-sized cetacean,which was later determined as a Gray's beaked whale Mesoplodon grayi,• Catedra de Histologia, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Chorroarin 280 (1427),
Buenos Aires, Republica Argentina.
** Centro Necional Patag6nico, C.O.N.I.C.E.T., 28 de Julio 28, 9120 Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Republica
Argentina.
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DELHON, CRESPO AND PAGNONI

Fig. 1. Location of the stranding. PV: Peninsula Valdes, GN: Golfo Nuevo, GSJ:
Golfo San Jose, St: Stranding.

stranded on June 28, 1983. It was in good condition, except that the body had
ulcerations made by sea-birds (gulls and petrels), there were wounds and scarsof unknown origin in the skin, the beak was broken, and the lower jaws had
been sectioned, possibly by fishermen.
Identification of the species
The species was identified in the field as Mesoplodon grayi, by means of thecolor pattern, presence of seven maxillary teeth and descriptions given by
Ross (1979) and Lichter and Hooper (1983) "body elongate, compressed laterally to some degree, bulgy melon, long and slender beak, small dorsal fin
inserted at about two-thirds of body length from the anterior, small flippers
and flukes lacking of caudal notch". Subsequently study of the skull confirmed
the species determination. The cranial rostrum is "slender, elongate, narrowat its base, with a straight dorsal margin in profile view, without prominential
notches in dorsal view" (Ross, 1979).
Biological data and samples
Standard external measurements (Norris, 1961) were taken to the nearest
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GRAY'S BEAKED WHALE
TABLE I. EXTERNAL BODY MEASUREMENTS OF THE PRESENT SPECIMEN(MEASURED AFTER NORRIS, 1961)
Measurementscm

1. Total length, from tip of upper jaw to middle of the posterior margin of tail flukes
2. Tip of upper jaw to anterior insertion of flipper
3. Tip of upper jaw to anterior insertion of dorsal fin
4. Tip of upper jaw to midpoint of genital aperture
5. Tip of upper jaw to centre of anus
6. Tip of upper jaw to centre of blow hole
7. Tip of upper jaw to angle of gape
8. Tip of upper jaw to centre of eye
9. Girth on a transverse plane intersecting axilla
10. Girth, maximum
11. Girth on a transverse plane intersecting anus
12. Length of the flipper, anterior insertion to tip
13. Length of the flipper, axilla to tip
14. Maximum width of flipper
15. Length of dorsal fin base
16. Height of dorsal fin
17. Width of flukes tip to tip
18. Distance from nearest point on anterior border of flukes to notch

452.5
120
340
300
343
60
37.5
63.5
186
206
148
55
46
18
31
19
117
35

5 mm with a tape measure and are listed in Table 1. Skull measurements weretaken with a caliper and a metal ruler to the nearest 1 mm, following themethods of Ross (1979) (Table 2). Color pattern was recorded in the field andvertebral count was made directly on the cleaned skeleton.
The gonads were fixed in 10% formalin, embedded in paraffin, cut into
7 µ,m thick sections and stained with Hematoxylin-Eosine, Masson's Trichrome
and Periodic Acid Schiff-Hematoxylin. Frozen pieces were cut in a criostateand stained with Sudan for lipid detection. Sub-capsular, perimediastinic, andintermediate zones of the entire glands were studied in this evaluation.
RESULTS

The specimen was a 452 cm adult male. Other external body measurements
are listed in Table 1.
The dorsal surface of the body was black, gradually becoming grayish
laterally. The ventral surface was black with unpigmented patches (5 to 30 mm
in diameter). The dorsal fin, flippers and flukes were black. As is usual in theZiphiidae, the specimen had two ventral throat grooves.
Four different positions of the skull can be seen in Fig. 2. Seven small
maxillary teeth were observed in the stranded specimen, but these were lost
during the cleaning of the skull.
The vertebral formula was C7, TIO, Ll 1, C18+ = 46+.
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DELHON, CRESPO AND PAGNONITABLE 2. SKULL MEASUREMENTS OF THE PRESENT SPECIMEN IN MILLIMETER(MEASURED AFTER ROSS, 1979)
Measurements

mm

1. Condylobasal length
2. Length of rostrum, tip of beak to line connecting apices of antorbital notches
3. Tip of rostrum to most anterior extension of pterigoid
4. Tip of rostrum to most posterior extension of maxillaries between pterygoids
5. Tip of rostrum to most posterior extension of maxillary plate
6. Tip of rostrum to anterior margin of superior nares
7. Tip of rostrum to most anterior point on premaxillary crest
8. Tip of rostrum to most posterior extension of temporal fossa
9. Tip of rostrum to most posterior extension of lateral tip of premaxillary crest
10. Tip of rostrum to most anterior extension of pterygoid sinus
11. Length of temporal fossa
12. Length of orbit
13. Length of right nasal on vertex of skull
14. Length of nasal suture
15. Breadth of skull across postorbital process of frontals
16. Breadth of skull across zygomatic processes of squamosales
17. Breadth of skull across centers of orbits
18. Least breadth of skull across posterior margins of temporal fossae
19. Greatest span of occipital condyles
20. Greatest width of an occipital condyle (right)
21. Greatest length of an occipital condyle (right)
22. Greatest breadth of foramen magnum
23. Breadth of skull across exoccipitals
24. Breadth of nasals on vertex
25. Least distance between premaxillary crests
26. Greatest span of premaxillary crests
27. Least width (strictly transverse) of premaxillae where they narrow opposite
superior rares
28. Greatest width of premaxillae anterior to place of measurement No. 27
29. Width of premaxillae at midlength of rostrum
30. Width of rostrum in apices of antorbital notches
31. Width of rostrum in apices of prominential notches
32. Greatest width of rostrum at midlength of rostrum
33. Greatest depth of rostrum at midlength of forstrum
34. Greatest transverse width of superior nares
35. Greatest width of temporal Fossa approximately at right angles to greatest length(right)36. Least distance between (anterior) maxillary foramina
3 7. Least distance between premaxillary foramina
38. Distance from posterior margin of left maxillary foramen to most anterior extensionof left maxillary prominence
39. Length of tympanic bulla, left
40. Length of tympanic bulla, right
41. Height of mandible at coronoid process

810
535
465
510
720
595
620
760
650
500
90
90
55
35
298
288
285
190
109
45
68
50
235
31
17
127
100
111
31
180
97
45
46
48
65
65
34
35
48
53
115

Histological study of the testes and related organs
Before fixing, testes weight and measurements were taken as follows:

weight (g)measurements (mm)

left
86.5
90X45X50

right112
120X50X50
Sci. Rep. Whales Res. Inst.,
No. 38, 1987

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Seminiferous tubules: All zones observed possesed typical functional
mature tubules (Fig. 3a) with an average diameter of 195.31 µ,m (S.D. ± 22.5).
Despite postmortem changes it was possible to distinguish the different stagesof the spermatogenic cycle. Qualitative and quantitative analyses of the seminal epithelium showed spermatogonial mitotic divisions (Fig. 3b), as well ascomplete spermatocytogenesis and spermiogenesis. All of the tubules counted(300 tubules x three zones) showed spermatogenic activity.
The tubuli recti and rete testis structure of the intratesticular seminal
pathways, confirmed the sexual maturity of this individual. Both the tubules
and the rete had terminal states of differentiation at epithelial and stromatallevels but no spermatozoa were observed in the lumen.
The interstitial space of Mesoplodon testes follows the general delphinid
pattern of organization (Harrison, 1969). Interstitial cells are relatively unconspicuous, hard to distinguish in routine preparations and occur isolated in
an abundant regular connective tissue stroma. Large and small blood vessels
are distributed randomly in the stroma, but no apparent relation exists between these vessels and the interstitial cells. The lymphatic vessels could not
be seen because we could not perform the intravascular perfusion of thegland (Harrison, 1969; Fawcet, Neaves and Flores, 1973; Sergeant, 1962).
An interesting feature of the interstitial space is the presence of adipocytes. These appear isolated in the interstitium or form masses of closely compacted cells (Figs 3c and 3d). Adipocytes with few intracytoplasmic lipid droplets can be easily confused with interstitial cells. In mammalian testis literature,
no reports concerning these cells (in physiological or pathological conditions)appeared (Courot, Hochereau and Ortavant, 1970; Setchell, 1978). Suchadipocytes in a normal functional gland are remarkable; further observations
are needed to confirm the Mesoplodon interstitium histology (Roosen-Runge,
1962, 1969).

Fig. 3. Histology of the testes of the present specimen.
a. Subcapsular zone. Seminiferous tubule (ts) and intertubular space (ti). (Masson's
Trichromic Staining, original magnification
100 x).
b. Subcapsular zone. Seminiferous tubule epithelium. s: Sertoli cell nuclei, m:gonial mitosis, p: pachitene primary spermatocytes, d: diplotene primary
spermatocytes, ti: interstitial tissue showing abundant fibrilar material. (PasHematoxylin Staining, 630 original magnification 630 X).
c. Subcapsular zone. lntertubular space (ti) showing and isolated adipose cell (a)resting on the lamina propia of the seminiferous tubule (ts). (Sudan-Hematoxylin
Staining, original magnification 400 X).
d. Mediastinum testes showing adipocytes clusters (a) between the tubuli recti (tr)and rete channels (rt). (Sudan-Hematoxylin Staining, original magnification
100 X).
e. Spermatozoa in the epididymal duct. See the lateral view of the heads (arrows)
with the typical flat anterior segment. (Hematoxylin-Eosin Staining, original
magnification
100 X).

Sci. Rep. Whales Res. Inst.,
No. 38, 1987

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DELHON, CRESPO AND FAGNONI

Epididymis and ductus deferens: These extragonadal tubular structures
are lined by a single or pseudostratified columnar epithelium. Despite theintense desquamation, it was possible to find a great number of spermatozoa.
The flat anterior segment of the sperm head observed in other cetaceans wasevident in profile views (Fig. 3e).
DISCUSSION

Mesoplodon grayi has a circumpolar distribution in the southern hemispherebetween 30°S and 45°S (Ross, 1979). More southern records of this species arelisted for Tierra del Fuego (54°S), including one nearly complete skeleton,
three crania and one group of thoracic vertebrae (Goodall, 1978). Few strandings along the Argentine coast have been reported in several papers, andreviewed by Lichter and Hooper (1983).
The present paper include measurement data and original considerations
about the sexual maturity.
There is little information on lengths of specimens of this species. Ross
(1979) gave total lengths of four adult males as follows: 1) 4.72 m, 2) 4.27 m,
3) 5.64 m, 4) 4.53 m (x = 4.79 m, s.d. -1 = 0.59). The specimen from Puerto
Piramides measured 4.52 m, falling within this range. The condylobasal
length of Ross's specimen No. 1 was 802 mm, and expressed as percentages ofbody length was 16.99%. The present specimen's CBL was 810 mm, being the17.92% of the body length.
The vertebral formula of the present individual agrees with that of six
specimens discussed by Ross (1979), but individual variation can be seen in
the number of thoracic vertebrae (range from 9 to 11), lumbar vertebrae(range from 10 to 12), caudal vertebrae (range from 16 to 20), and the total
number of vertebrae (range from 46+ to 49).
Unfortunately, age determination could not be performed because thelower jaws had been cut off and the teeth were lacking, but the histologicalappraisement of the specimen testes, epididymis, and ductus deferens,
enable us to determinate that the animal was sexually mature and in an active
state of spermatogenesis.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The authors are indebted to Mr Mariano Van Gelderen, and J.C. Lopez and
J.M. Musmeci (Direcci6n de Conservaci6n del Patrimonio Turistico), whohelped with the specimen in the field, to Dr Guillermo Harris for valuable
information, to Dr Atila Gozstonyi (Centro Nacional Patag6nico), whocorrected the English manuscript, to Lie. Hugo P. Castello (Mus. Arg. Ciencias
Naturales "Bern. Riv.") and Mrs Nathalie Goodall who read critically themanuscript and Dr Toshio Kasuya (Far Seas Fish. Res. Lab.) who read an
early draft of the histological study.
Sci. Rep. Whales Res. Inst.,
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GRAY'S BEAKED WHALE

115

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Sci. Rep. Whales Res. Inst.,
No. 38, 1987