World's rarest whale carcass washes ashore in New Zealand

Image of spade-toothed whale carcass released on July 16

The carcass of a creature identified as the world's rarest whale, measuring 5 meters long, was found on the coast near the estuary in the southern province of Otago on July 4, AFP reported on July 16, citing researchers working for the New Zealand government.

The New Zealand Conservation Agency and the country's national museum Te Papa confirmed that this was a male spade-toothed whale.

"The spade-toothed whale is among the least understood large mammals of modern times," according to Otago conservation manager Gabe Davies.

Mr Davies said that since the 1800s, only six specimens of this species have been recorded worldwide, of which five were discovered in New Zealand.

The species was first described in 1874, based on a lower jaw and two teeth found in New Zealand, so the discovery of a full-sized spade-toothed whale is considered a major conservation event.

The fish carcasses were found in a fresh condition, providing the first opportunity for dissection for research purposes.

Spade-toothed whales are so rare that nothing was known about them before.

The carcasses were placed in a freezer and genetic samples were sent to the University of Auckland and the New Zealand Crustacean Herbarium.

It is expected to take weeks or even months for the genetic information to be processed and a final conclusion about the world's rarest whale species to be drawn.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/xac-ca-voi-hiem-nhat-the-gioi-dat-len-bo-bien-o-new-zealand-185240716155512635.htm