Previously unseen whale species washes up on New Zealand beach

LA Times ^ | 05 Nov 12 | Jon Bardin

[blueplum]

Not one but two specimens of the world’s rarest known species of whale have been discovered on a New Zealand beach, according to a report published Monday in the journal Current Biology. The species, called the spade-toothed beaked whale, is so rare that before the find researchers weren't even sure if it still existed.

The two whales washed up on Opape Beach in New Zealand’s Bay of Plenty. At first scientists thought they were examples of a much more pedestrian species, the Gray’s beaked whales, which are the most commonly beached whales in the region. But after undertaking a DNA analysis — standard procedure for beached whales that die on shore — the researchers were shocked to find that the whales were spade-toothed beaked whales, a species with no known sightings that was previously known only from three partial skulls.

[Gator113]

BTW.... I joke around a great deal, but your inference might actually be relevant.

I kinda figure that there isn’t a thing I could do about it, so I won’t worry when it happens.... I just hope to live right between now and whatever the future holds.

[Mr. Wright]

As you know, because of the International Time Line, December 21, 2012 will arrive in Australia before it arrives in the USA. My game plan is this - I will watch what happens at midnight in Australia and be guided accordingly.

[RatSlayer]

Probably the environazis trying to get fishing banned in the region by claiming to have found a “new endangered species”.

Similar to when they caught those lefties planting tufts of endangered species fur in national forests.

[Gator113]

Good idea....

[Brett66]

ROFL!

[Polynikes]

There were at least two rare deep diving whales that were washed ashore prior the 89’ Loma Prieta quake. I believe one was a species of beaked whale. At the time it was regarded as a rather unusual occurrence. These two whales may mean something or maybe nothing. If I lived in the area I would be looking for unexplained rises in lost pets. Just a thought.

[Mr. Wright]

http://www.worldatlas.com/aatlas/infopage/dateline.htm

[bert]

They are most likely Grays, a mutation but not a true species.

Some splitter got a Phd for writing up a new species

[SunkenCiv]

GGG managers are SunkenCiv, StayAt HomeMother & Ernest_at_the_Beach	join list or digest view topics view or post blog bookmark post a topic subscribe
Thanks blueplum. To all -- please ping me to other topics which are appropriate for the GGG list.

[SunkenCiv]

GGG managers are SunkenCiv, StayAt HomeMother & Ernest_at_the_Beach	join list or digest view topics view or post blog bookmark post a topic subscribe
Thanks blueplum. To all -- please ping me to other topics which are appropriate for the GGG list.

[shaggy eel]

,,, one of these would look really good on a pub wall.