Genetic identity of three species of beaked whale (family Ziphiidae) off the Brazilian coast

Introduction: Studies on beaked whales in the South Atlantic are scarce, and there are still significant gaps in knowledge about these species in this region. In Brazil, ten species have been reported over the years. Most of these records, however, are limited to isolated stranding reports, and comprehensive research has yet to be conducted. Therefore, we performed molecular identification of seven stranded specimens to provide preliminary insights into regional genetic patterns.