Researchers believe the first-ever complete specimen of the exceptionally rare spade-toothed whale likely perished due to head trauma. A comprehensive necropsy, conducted near Dunedin, New Zealand, offered an unparalleled opportunity to study this elusive beaked whale species.
Discovered in July on a South Island beach, the remarkably preserved 16-foot male represents the first complete spade-toothed whale ever documented. Prior to this discovery, only seven sightings had been recorded, none of a living whale. The examination, led by local Māori people, Te Rūnanga Ōtākou, in collaboration with the New Zealand Department of Conservation, provided invaluable insights into this mysterious creature.
The whale's fractured jaw and bruising around the head and neck suggest head trauma as the probable cause of death, according to beaked whale expert Anton van Helden. While the exact cause remains uncertain, the evidence points towards a traumatic event.
The necropsy revealed surprising details about the whale's digestive system. Researchers, previously unaware of how spade-toothed whales processed food, discovered nine stomach chambers containing squid remains and parasitic worms. Tiny vestigial teeth in the upper jaw also provided clues to the whale's evolutionary history, a finding that astonished scientists.
This groundbreaking research was further distinguished by the collaboration between scientists, curators, and local Māori, integrating Indigenous knowledge and traditions into the process. The whale, considered a taonga (precious treasure) by Māori, was treated with the utmost respect throughout the examination.
Following the necropsy, the whale’s jawbone and teeth will be preserved by the local iwi (tribe), while its skeleton will eventually be displayed in a museum, with 3D-printed replicas replacing the parts retained by the iwi.
New Zealand, known as a whale stranding hotspot, has recorded over 5,000 such incidents since 1840. The first spade-toothed whale bones were discovered in 1872 on New Zealand’s Pitt Island, followed by discoveries in the 1950s and on Chile’s Robinson Crusoe Island in 1986.
