| Summary: | Conservation science requires quickly acquiring information and taking action in order to protect species at risk of extinction. Elusive wildlife, however, present challenges to effective conservation measures because it is often difficult to collect enough data on these species to recognize their conservation needs and implement management plans. As a result, researchers must identify alternative means of gathering sufficient data on these species. Specimens of opportunity, such as museum specimens, provide a way to improve knowledge on these species, and these specimens have already proven valuable by increasing information on biodiversity, habitat and range, and population structure in many species. Beaked whales (family Ziphiidae) are a prime example of elusive species, and as a result little is known about their biology and ecology. This speciose group of cetaceans is challenging to locate and distinguish in situ due to the elusive behavior and similar appearance amongst species. Thus, specimens of opportunity may be the most efficacious means of gathering enough information on beaked whales to make informed conservation decisions. In this study I utilized specimens of opportunity from museum and research institutions to increase knowledge and generate data on the Sowerby’s beaked whale (Mesoplodon bidens). First described in 1804, little is known about this species’ basic biology or ecology. I employed snowball sampling to identify museums with specimens and collected data on 180 specimens from 24 museum and research institutions. I collected data on specimen collection date and location, sex, age class, and 7 skull and mandibular measurements. I quantified skull and mandibular measurements and found that specimens collected in the west Atlantic demonstrated significantly greater median values for total skull length, proximal beak width, total mandibular length, and mandibular symphysis to distal end length. Quadratic discriminant analysis of skull and mandibular measurements successfully assigned ...
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