In New Zealand, scientists and Māori cultural experts are studying a rare spade-toothed whale. This is only the seventh whale of its kind ever found. The goal is to uncover the secrets of this enigmatic species.
Anton van Helden, a marine science advisor, expressed his excitement. He named the spade-toothed whale. This is the first time a dissection of this species has taken place.
The whale washed up dead on a New Zealand beach in July. Researchers hope to learn about where the whales live and why they are rarely seen. They also want to study the whale's brain and digestive system.
The 5-meter-long male whale is being studied at an agricultural research center near Dunedin. Scientists hope to discover new parasites. They also want to understand how the whale produces sound and what it eats.
New Zealand is a whale-stranding hotspot. The first spade-toothed whale bones were found in 1872. DNA sequencing in 2002 confirmed the species' uniqueness.
The dissection is being done in partnership with the Māori people. Whales are considered a treasure to Māori. The local iwi will keep the jawbone and teeth.
Tumai Cassidy from Te Rūnanga Ōtākou said the whale is a gift from Tangaroa. The skeleton will be displayed in a museum. 3D printing will replicate the jawbone and teeth.
Spade-toothed whales are thought to live in the Southern Pacific Ocean. They may rarely surface. Joy Reidenberg from Icahn School of Medicine hopes to apply discoveries to the human condition.