A rare whale, identified as a spade-toothed whale, washed up on a beach in New Zealand earlier this month, marking a significant find for scientists. The beaked whale, measuring five meters, was found near an estuary in Otago province and identified by its unique color patterns, skull shape, beak, and teeth. As DNA testing is underway, final identification may take several weeks. The rarity of this species, with no live sightings and only a few specimens ever found, means little is known about it.
The discovery offers researchers an opportunity to gain crucial information about the spade-toothed whale. The whale’s carcass was found on July 4 at the mouth of the Taiari River in Otago province, prompting local officials to alert the New Zealand Department of Conservation (DOC). Gabe Davies, a DOC official, described the find as significant due to the species’ elusive nature, with only six documented samples globally. The recently deceased specimen may become the first of its kind to be dissected for scientific study.
New Zealand’s Māori people, who consider whales sacred, will be involved in deciding the fate of the whale. The spade-toothed whale species was first described in 1874 from a lower jaw and two teeth found in the Chatham Islands. Subsequent skeletal remains discovered in New Zealand and Chile confirmed the species, with additional strandings in 2010 and 2017 adding to the minimal number of known specimens.