Note on James Sowerby and the discovery of Sowerby's beaked whale, Mesoplodon bidens

Abstract

James Sowerby's life in London, his zoological works, and his natural history collections are briefly reviewed. The location and date of the stranding and subsequent description of the type specimen of Mesoplodon bidens is discussed. This and other information pertaining to the two original publications by Sowerby is reviewed and the history of the type cranium and mandible is described.