A super rare whale with only six reported specimens has been found and dissected for the first time ever – with scientists and natives working together and looking at the animal together
Scientists were left shocked when dissecting world’s rarest whale which revealed the unexpected.
Conservationists and locals in New Zealand managed to acquire a Taoka whale, which translates to treasure in the language of South Island Māori culture. The mammal has distinctive spade-teeth and has the official species name Mesoplodon traversii. It is the rarest species of beaked whale with only six specimens confirmed to date. What’s more surprising – no one has ever seen one alive. Specialists were delighted when they heard one had potentially been spotted.
However, they were saddened to hear it was in the form of a corpse. The reports initially detailed a dead beached whale near a small fishing village named Taieri Mouth. When they arrived, they found a five metre male, described as one of the biggest mysteries of the whaling world.
But this was the first opportunity to take a closer look at the animal for the first time. Scientists found something completely unexpected inside.
The Department of Conservation in New Zealand released a statement about their findings. Rachel Wesley of the Rūnanga Maori assembly noted this was the first time scientists and natives worked together to gain a deeper understanding of the species.
It was revealed that the spade-tooth whales have tiny vestigial teeth in their upper jaw, which have not perished in evolutionary changes despite not being needed today. Likewise, the whales previously walked on land as well as swam in the oceans.
Upon further inspection, scientists found reduced hind limbs which were once thought to act as legs 50 million years ago. Now, the remnants are used for a steamy purpose – the strength of their mating skills. Scientists believe they help improve the thrust of the animal.
Perhaps most surprisingly, the whale had nine chambers in the stomach, which gave experts a clue on how the whales ate and communicate. “In some of those stomachs we found squid beaks and some lenses from the eyes of squid, a few parasitic worms, and maybe some other parts of organisms that we are not quite sure of,” said Marine Science Advisor and whale expert Anton van Helden. “We have a parasitologist who will study them to find out what they are.
The findings are compiled and added to existing scientific records, which experts believe will expand the knowledge they have on whales.
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