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17 September, 2024
The World's Rarest Whale: The Spade-Toothed Whale
Tue 16 Jul, 2024
Context
- The world’s rarest "spade-toothed whale", which had no live sightings ever recorded, was found washed ashore on a beach near Otago, New Zealand.
Key Highlights
- This is a five-meter-long whale.
- If it is confirmed that the whale, which has been found on the beach, is the elusive spade-toothed whale, it will be the first specimen found in a condition allowing scientists to dissect it.
- Nothing is currently known about the whales’ habitat.
- The researchers will work with local "Maori iwi" tribes to plan how it will be examined.
- Important types of Whales: “Baleen” and “Toothed” Whales
- Baleen whales have baleen plates, or sheets, which sieve prey from seawater.
- Toothed whales have teeth and they actively hunt fish, squid and other sea creatures.
Important Species of Whales
| Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus) | According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) The "Antarctic blue whale" is the biggest animal on the planet, weighing up to 400,000 pounds (approximately 33 elephants) and reaching up to 98 feet in length. |
| Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) | It is a baleen whale known for its elaborate courtship songs and displays. It is particularly found in the Atlantic, Arctic, and Pacific Oceans. |
| Gray Whale (Eschrichtius robustus) | It is a baleen whale that reaches a length of 14.9 meters, and a weight of up to 41 tonnes. |
| Minke Whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) | Minke whales are found in various oceanic regions and are known for their elusive nature. |
| Pygmy right whale (Caperea marginata) | It is native to ocean waters in the southern hemisphere and is the smallest baleen whale species growing to only 6.5 metres long. |