Very little
is known about southern bottlenose whales because they
are not seen at sea very often. They have bulbous foreheads
which become more bulbous in older animals, especially
in males when the front of the forehead can become almost
vertically flat. This is why they are sometimes known
as flatheads. They usually have only two teeth which,
in the female, stay hidden in the gums. Sometimes males
have four teeth, but they have been known to have no
teeth at all. They have small triangular dorsal fins
with curled tips which are situated quite a long way
down their backs. Their flippers are small with pointed
tips. There is no notch in their flukes which are wide
with concave trailing edges. Southern bottlenose whales
vary greatly in colour from blue-black to a dull yellow.
The forehead, beak and underside all tend to be lighter
in colour. Younger animals tend to have darker skin.
Southern bottlenose whales are often covered in scratches
and scars.
