Rare Spade-Toothed Whale Found Dead on New Zealand Beach Sparks Scientific Excitement

A rare spade-toothed whale, a species never before seen alive, was discovered dead on a beach in New Zealand earlier this month, as reported by BBC News. Measuring five meters in length, scientists were able to identify this elusive creature based on its distinct color patterns, skull shape, beak, and tooth structure.

The carcass of the spade-toothed whale is currently in cold storage as DNA testing is underway to confirm its identity, a process that experts suggest could take several weeks to complete due to the extreme rarity of the species. Given the limited number of specimens found and the absence of live sightings, the discovery of this whale presents a unique opportunity for researchers to gather valuable new insights.

Local authorities were alerted to the stranded whale on July 4 at the mouth of the Taiari River in Otago Province on New Zealand‘s South Island. Speaking on behalf of the Department of Conservation (DOC), Gabe Davies emphasized that spade-toothed whales rank among the least studied large mammalian species, with only six documented samples worldwide.

DOC officials expressed the significance of this find from both a scientific and conservation standpoint, highlighting the potential for this newly discovered specimen to be the first of its kind to undergo a detailed dissection, shedding light on the species’ biology and behavior.

Notably, New Zealand’s indigenous Maori community considers whales to be sacred treasures, and therefore, local Maori groups will play a pivotal role in determining the proper handling of the whale’s remains, in accordance with their cultural beliefs.

The spade-toothed whale was originally identified as a distinct species in 1874 following the recovery of a lower jaw and two teeth from the Chatham Islands in New Zealand. Subsequent findings of skeletal remains from two other specimens found near islands in New Zealand and Chile further solidified the classification of this elusive species. Recent incidents in 2010 and 2017, where stranded whales were discovered off New Zealand’s North Island, added to the limited collection of known spade-toothed whales.