Scientists dissect ‘world’s rarest whale’ for clues on little-known species

Only seven spade-tooth whales have ever been documented, now work is beginning on a specimen that washed ashore in New Zealand in JulyA spade-tooth whale – thought to be the world’s rarest whale species – is undergoing dissection in New Zealand, in the first ever examination of a complete specimen.Spade-toothed whales are a type of beaked whale named for their teeth resembling the spade-like “flensing” blade once used to strip whales of their blubber. Just seven have been documented since the 1800s, with all but one found in New Zealand. Continue reading...

Scientists dissect ‘world’s rarest whale’ for clues on little-known species

Only seven spade-tooth whales have ever been documented, now work is beginning on a specimen that washed ashore in New Zealand in July

A spade-tooth whale – thought to be the world’s rarest whale species – is undergoing dissection in New Zealand, in the first ever examination of a complete specimen.

Spade-toothed whales are a type of beaked whale named for their teeth resembling the spade-like “flensing” blade once used to strip whales of their blubber. Just seven have been documented since the 1800s, with all but one found in New Zealand. Continue reading...