The Baird’s Beaked Whale

The Baird's beaked whale, which may have more than ten stomachs, is at the top of our list of the animals with multiple stomachs. What gives that this possible? Marine mammal biologists examined several fresh Baird's beaked whale specimens at a Japanese whaling station where professional whalers delivered their haul. Their estimates are likely to be more accurate than those based on beach carcasses in varying states of decomposition. There was no forestomach in any of the 30 fresh specimens, the whale's stomach is divided into two huge chambers: two major stomach compartments, and two pyloric stomach compartments.

The stomachs of Baird's beaked whales are connected by a network of connecting chambers. According to research, beaked whales have an average of 8.24 connecting chambers. Researchers have discovered anything from three to eleven connected stomach chambers in various whales, indicating that different species have varying numbers of connecting chambers. That is to say, some Baird's beaked whales have up to 13 stomachs when counting their two major stomachs!

Digestive System: Thirteen Stomach Chambers