Rare Spade-Toothed Whale Washes Ashore in New Zealand
A rare find has washed up on a New Zealand beach, where scientists have identified a dead whale as a spade-toothed whale, a species so elusive it has never been seen alive. The five-meter long beaked whale was identified by its color patterns, skull shape, beak, and teeth. The remains are currently in cold storage for DNA testing, with experts estimating several weeks before a final confirmation is made. Given the scarcity of such specimens and the total absence of live sightings, knowledge about the spade-toothed whale is extremely limited.
Researchers believe this discovery could provide valuable new insights into the species. Local officials reported the whale ashore on July 4 at the mouth of the Taiari River in Otago province, located on New Zealand’s South Island. Gabe Davies from the Department of Conservation (DOC) highlighted the significance of this rare event, noting that only six spade-toothed whale samples have ever been documented worldwide. “From a scientific and conservation perspective, this is monumental,” Davies stated. The department added that because the whale had only recently died, it could potentially become the first of its species to be dissected.
New Zealand’s Māori people consider whales to be sacred, and the DOC has announced that local Māori communities will be involved in deciding what happens to the whale. The spade-toothed whale species was first described in 1874 with the discovery of a lower jaw and two teeth from the Chatham Islands. Skeletal remains from just two other specimens found near New Zealand and Chile further established the new species. The rare whale’s small collection was additionally bolstered by discoveries from strandings on New Zealand’s North Island in 2010 and 2017.