An endangered species, it normally inhabits the northern reaches of the North Atlantic Ocean, off the coasts of Norway, Iceland, Greenland and northern Labrador, in northeastern Canada.

Often mistaken for a dolphin because of its protruding beak, hyperoodon ampullatus can be seen throughout the year in and around The Gully, an undersea canyon off the southeast coast of Nova Scotia.

Northern bottle-nosed whales are normally seen in small, mixed groups during mating and calving periods but for the rest of the year males are found in groups of up to five while females and young are seen in groups of up to nine.

Males have a bulbous "forehead" rising abruptly from the beak; in females and young males, the "forehead" is less pronounced; beaks and heads can be whitish in colour.

The species can be distinguished by its small dorsal fin about two-thirds down its body which is triangular in shape and pointed at its peak. Its broad tail has no notches on it.

The whales are normally not seen in water less than 800 metres deep and can dive up to 1,000 metres down in search of their main food, Arctic squid, remaining under water for up to 70 minutes.

Northern bottle-nosed whales, which can live for between 30 and 40 years, are said to be extremely curious -- and hence easily hunted -- but face threats not just to themselves but their habitats from commercial shipping and fishing.

Petrochemical exploration -- and the underwater noise created by drilling -- is also said to affect the animal's communication systems.

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