LOWER BEAK
We examined beaks of M. dentata from five individuals (48, 58, 69, 84, 135 mm ML), measurements are taken from three individuals [69, 84, (temperate North Pacific), 135 mm ML (mature male, equatorial Pacific)]. The following characters are taken from Clarke (1986). Means are used usually for measurements for the two smaller of the three and are presented first; data for the larger specimen is presented separately when its values differ greatly from the other two.
- Pigmentation - Normal.
- Pigmentation pattern - See photographs.XXXXX
- (Wing length)/(visible rostral edge) (profile) - 1.72, 2.55
- Height/baseline (profile) - 0.98
- (Length from rostral tip to wing tip projected on baseline)/baseline (profile) - 0.28, 0.39
- (Hood length)/(crest length) (profile) - 0.58
- (Crest length)/baseline (profile) - 0.59
- (Rostral base)/(visible rostral edge) (profile) - 1.05, 1.18
- (Hood length)/(visible rostral edge) (profile) - 0.87, 1.04
- Rostral width ratio [LRL/(length between jaw angles)] - 1.64, 1.17
- Wing angle (= visible jaw angle in profile) - Obtuse.
- Shape of rostral edge - Slight curve; generally no indication of hook.
- Rostrum (profile) - Broad taper.
- Hood distance from crest - Normal to close.
- Crest - Often slightly curved.
- Lateral wall notch - Slight.
- Hood-wing - Broad.
- Hood notch - Shallow.
- Lateral walls to free corner - Well separated with increasing but low divergence from one another.
- Hood midline - Slightly curved.
- Hood surface without prominent longitudinal ridges or grooves.
- Wing fold - Low, rounded but more angled in adult, usually obscures jaw angle in profile.
- Shoulder - Shoulder blades narrow (much deeper than wide), edges project.
- Shoulder groove - Strong
- Jaw angle - Obtuse, without associated step or transparent strip.
- Jaw edge extension without step and with prominent angle point extending well past shoulder padding; jaw edge extension without clear strip between it and shoulder blade.
- Jaw edge in cross-section - Very sharp, less sharp in adult.
- Crest in cross-section - Narrow.
- Lateral wall - Distinct lateral-wall fold capped by solid ridge that usually overhangs base anteriorly, ridge nearly reaches posterior margin of lateral wall; lateral wall fold, with anterior sharp, medial groove and steeply sloping sides, extends to posterior margin of lateral wall.
![Click on an image to view larger version & data in a new window](/tree/img/magnify.gif)
![](/tree/ToLimages/mdentata69lbsidem.300a.jpg)
Figure. Left and right side views of the same lower beak of M. dentata, 69 mm ML, 2.6 mm LRL, immature male, North Pacific, 43°N, 179°W. Photographs by R. Young.
![Click on an image to view larger version & data in a new window](/tree/img/magnify.gif)
![](/tree/ToLimages/mdentata58lbside.300a.jpg)
Figure. Left and right side views of the same lower beak of M. dentata, 58 mm ML, 2.2 mm LRL, immature male, North Pacific, 43°N, 179°W. Photographs by R. Young.
![Click on an image to view larger version & data in a new window](/tree/img/magnify.gif)
![](/tree/ToLimages/mdentata135.84cuts.300a.jpg)
Figure. Side views of lower beaks of M. dentata that have been cut in half and laid flat with drawn cross-sections of the lateral wall overlayed where the cuts occurred. Left - 135 mm ML, 2.0 mm LRL, mature male, equatorial Pacific at 06°N, 150°W. Right - 84 mm ML, 3.6 mm LRL, immature female, North Pacific at 43°N, 179°W. Photographs by R. Young.
![Click on an image to view larger version & data in a new window](/tree/img/magnify.gif)
![](/tree/ToLimages/mdentata69lbsideoblm.300a.jpg)
Figure. Left and right side-oblique views of the same lower beak of M. dentata, 69 mm ML, immature male, North Pacific, 43°N, 179°W. Photographs by R. Young.
![Click on an image to view larger version & data in a new window](/tree/img/magnify.gif)
![](/tree/ToLimages/mdentata69lbtopm.300a.jpg)
Figure. Two views of the same lower beak of M. dentata, 69 mm ML, immature male, North Pacific, 43°N, 179°W. Left - Top view. Right - Posterior-oblique view showing the width of the lateral wall ridge (arrow). Photographs by R. Young.
![Click on an image to view larger version & data in a new window](/tree/img/magnify.gif)
![](/tree/ToLimages/mdentata100lbfrontf.300a.jpg)
Figure. Front (left) and rear (right) views of the same lower beak of M. dentata, 69 mm ML, immature male, North Pacific, 43°N, 179°W. Photographs by R. Young.
Comments
To be added.
UPPER BEAK
![Click on an image to view larger version & data in a new window](/tree/img/magnify.gif)
![](/tree/ToLimages/mdentata69ubsidem.300a.jpg)
Figure. Side view of the upper beak of M. dentata, 69 mm ML, immature male, North Pacific, 43°N, 179°W. Photographs by R. Young.
![Click on an image to view larger version & data in a new window](/tree/img/magnify.gif)
![](/tree/ToLimages/mdentata69ubtopm.350a.jpg)
Figure. Various views of the same upper beak of M. dentata, 69 mm ML, immature male, North Pacific, 43°N, 179°W. Left - Top view. Middle - Bottom view. Right - Front view. Photographs by R. Young.
Comments
To be added.