Scientists in New Zealand have found a pair of spade-toothed beaked whales (unfortunately they died when they beached themselves). These whales are the rarest species of whales in the world. Scientists only know about them through bone fragments that had been washed ashore. These were the first specimens that the world has ever known.
Nobody has ever seen one of these in the flesh before. The only way scientists have known about these is through the discovery of bones washed ashore: a lower jaw washed ashore in New Zealand and upper skulls that washed ashore off of Chile over a 140-year period. Because the last time one was seen was... well, never, many people didn't even believe in their existence. Scientist were beginning to wonder if these whales were even still alive.
This whale has never been seen before, and scientist speculate that it may be because they are a deep water species and don't come near shore often. Other beaked whale species can dive to more than 800 meters below the surface, with dives lasting nearly 90 minutes. Unfortunately for scientists, they all look very similar, with only slight differences in their coloration. This particular species, the Mesoplodon bahamondi, gained its common name from the (bet you can finish this sentence) odd spade shape of their teeth. Scientists had a hard time with these species, as the only specimens they had were 2 skulls and a jawbone, all very battered from the elements. Now, in a massive stroke of luck for marine biologists and none at all for these poor whales, they not only have a whale, they have two. Even better, the whales are an adult female (the mother) and her male calf.
These two whales had actually beached themselves in 2010, and after extensive investigation, scientists confirmed that these two were spade-toothed beaked whales. In the beginning, scientist didn't realize that they were dealing with this species because they were misidentified as another type of beaked whale that frequents New Zealand: the Gray's beaked whale. After genetic testing, they were able to know that these were, in fact, an extremely rare species. Because they know almost nothing about this species, besides what they can infer from the behavior of other whales, scientist are excited to be able to examine their carcasses in hopes of learning more about these giant inhabitants of the seas.
http://au.ibtimes.com/articles/402702/20121108/beaked-whale-found-new-zealand-confirmed-world.htm
Nobody has ever seen one of these in the flesh before. The only way scientists have known about these is through the discovery of bones washed ashore: a lower jaw washed ashore in New Zealand and upper skulls that washed ashore off of Chile over a 140-year period. Because the last time one was seen was... well, never, many people didn't even believe in their existence. Scientist were beginning to wonder if these whales were even still alive.
This whale has never been seen before, and scientist speculate that it may be because they are a deep water species and don't come near shore often. Other beaked whale species can dive to more than 800 meters below the surface, with dives lasting nearly 90 minutes. Unfortunately for scientists, they all look very similar, with only slight differences in their coloration. This particular species, the Mesoplodon bahamondi, gained its common name from the (bet you can finish this sentence) odd spade shape of their teeth. Scientists had a hard time with these species, as the only specimens they had were 2 skulls and a jawbone, all very battered from the elements. Now, in a massive stroke of luck for marine biologists and none at all for these poor whales, they not only have a whale, they have two. Even better, the whales are an adult female (the mother) and her male calf.
These two whales had actually beached themselves in 2010, and after extensive investigation, scientists confirmed that these two were spade-toothed beaked whales. In the beginning, scientist didn't realize that they were dealing with this species because they were misidentified as another type of beaked whale that frequents New Zealand: the Gray's beaked whale. After genetic testing, they were able to know that these were, in fact, an extremely rare species. Because they know almost nothing about this species, besides what they can infer from the behavior of other whales, scientist are excited to be able to examine their carcasses in hopes of learning more about these giant inhabitants of the seas.
http://au.ibtimes.com/articles/402702/20121108/beaked-whale-found-new-zealand-confirmed-world.htm
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