Mesoplodont

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Any of several small, deep-diving beaked whales of the genus Mesoplodon, whose males often have a pair of distinctive tusk-like teeth on the lower jaw
2. A type of toothed whale belonging to the genus Mesoplodon, known for its elongated beak and the unusual teeth carried by adult males
3. Marine mammal in the beaked whale family, specifically one of the elusive Mesoplodon species that dive to great depths and rarely surface in view

Etymology: The name is built from three Greek parts: "mesos," meaning middle, "hoplon," meaning weapon or tool, and "odous," meaning tooth. It describes an unusual feature of these whales. In most species, the males have a single pair of teeth in the lower jaw, set in the middle of the jaw rather than at the front or back. The genus name Mesoplodon was coined by the French naturalist Paul Gervais, who applied it to these elusive beaked whales. Many species were known for a long time only from stranded carcasses, so the name stayed a technical label for zoologists rather than a word for everyday speech. The noun form refers to any member of that genus.