The northernmost extent of the range is continually changing; strandings were noted at 31-32° south of the equator along Brazil’s southern coast until an emaciated individual was found at 13° S on Maré Island off the north-east coast of Brazil in 2002. However, in 2011 an adult male strap-toothed beaked whale stranded alive in at 16° north of the equator; more than 5000 km further north than the previously accepted range of the species. The whale died and a necropsy revealed that there was no prey within the stomach, but the overall body condition was good.