Hector’s Beaked Whale vs small blue

Mesoplodon hectori compared with Cupido minimus

Key Differences

• Hector’s Beaked Whale is Data Deficient while small blue is Near Threatened.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Hector’s Beaked Whale	small blue
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Chordata (Chordates)	Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class	Mammalia (Mammals)	Insecta (Insects)
Order	Cetacea (Whales & Dolphins)	Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)
Family	Hyperoodontidae	Lycaenidae
Genus	Mesoplodon	Cupido
Species	Mesoplodon hectori	Cupido minimus

Evolutionary Relationship

Hector’s Beaked Whale and small blue share a common ancestor at the Kingdom level: Animalia. (Animals)

Conservation Status

Hector’s Beaked Whale

DD — Data Deficient

small blue

NT — Near Threatened

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Hector’s Beaked Whale	small blue
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Hector’s Beaked Whale

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

small blue

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

Found across Europe (39 countries). Listed as Near Threatened, this species requires ongoing monitoring to prevent population decline.

small blue

small blue (Cupido minimus) is classified as Near Threatened (NT) on the IUCN Red List. Close to qualifying as threatened, with populations that may become vulnerable without conservation action.