A rare discovery has surfaced on New Zealand’s South Island as a mysterious whale, believed to be a spade-toothed whale, washed ashore on an Otago beach this month. This rare cetacean, identified by its distinctive skull, beak, and teeth, represents only the seventh known specimen of the species.
Spade-toothed whales are the world’s rarest, with no live sightings ever recorded. Their habitat, diet, and population size remain unknown due to their elusive nature and deep-diving behavior in the southern Pacific Ocean.
Hannah Hendriks, marine technical adviser for the Department of Conservation, stated, “We know very little, practically nothing, about these creatures. This discovery will lead to groundbreaking science and provide world-first information.”
Previous specimens found on New Zealand’s North Island were buried before DNA testing could confirm their species, thwarting scientific study. This time, the whale was promptly transported to cold storage. Researchers will collaborate with local Māori iwi (tribes) to plan its examination, respecting cultural significance as whales are considered a taonga (sacred treasure) by New Zealand’s Indigenous people.
Kirsten Young, a senior lecturer at the University of Exeter who has studied spade-toothed whales, expressed excitement, “The fresh discovery makes me wonder — how many are out in the deep ocean and how do they live?”
Genetic testing to confirm the whale’s identification could take months. This discovery marks a significant step forward in understanding one of the ocean’s most enigmatic species.
