The world’s rarest whales are spade-toothed whales. Nobody is aware of their number or diet. Since no sightings have ever been reported, it is even unknown exactly where they reside in the vast southern Pacific Ocean.
The remnants of the five-meter (about 16-foot) long species, a sort of beaked whale, were discovered in New Zealand on July 4 close to a river estuary in the southern province of Otago, raising the possibility that scientists would soon be able to answer at least some of those puzzles.
Based on its color patterns and the structure of its skull, beak, and teeth, marine mammal experts from Te Papa, the country’s museum, and the Department of Conservation in New Zealand recognized it as a male spade-toothed whale.
On Monday, scientists announced that a DNA test had been initiated to validate the classification.
The animal would be the first to be discovered in a state that would permit scientists to dissect it if the discovery is indeed that of the spade-toothed whale.
This would enable them to determine the whale’s diet, trace its relationships with the few other members of its species that have been discovered, and possibly even offer hints as to where it may reside.
“We know very little, practically nothing” about the creatures, Hannah Hendriks, marine technical adviser for the Department of Conservation, said. “This is going to lead to some amazing science and world-first information.”
Only six other spade-toothed whales have ever been located. But those found intact on the beaches of New Zealand’s North Island were buried before DNA testing could verify their identification, Hendriks said, thwarting any chance to study them.
