Rare Spade-Toothed Whale’s Death Likely Due to Head Trauma, Scientists Say

The world’s rarest whale, a spade-toothed beaked whale, likely died from head injuries, scientists believe. This conclusion comes following the first-ever dissection of a complete specimen, a 5-meter (16-foot) male found washed ashore on a South Island beach in July, The Associated Press reports.

The meticulously documented dissection, completed last week at a research center near Dunedin, was a collaborative effort between scientists and the local Māori iwi, Te Rūnanga Ōtākou. The New Zealand Department of Conservation released a statement detailing the findings, which included evidence of a broken jaw and bruising to the head and neck, strongly suggesting head trauma as the cause of death.

This was only the seventh recorded sighting of a spade-toothed whale, and the first complete specimen ever discovered. Prior sightings only provided limited information about the species. The dissection revealed fascinating details about the whale’s anatomy, including the presence of nine stomach chambers containing squid remains and parasitic worms. Interestingly, the scientists also discovered tiny vestigial teeth in the upper jaw.

The unique collaboration with the Māori iwi incorporated traditional Indigenous knowledge and customs throughout the process. Reflecting the deep cultural significance of whales to the Māori, who consider them taonga (precious treasures), the iwi will retain the whale’s jawbone and teeth, with 3D replicas created for museum display. The skeleton will be displayed in a New Zealand museum.

Anton van Helden, a beaked whale expert with the New Zealand conservation agency, highlighted the significance of this discovery, stating that prior to this dissection, much remained unknown about the spade-toothed whale’s digestive system. This unprecedented access provided crucial insights into the species’ diet and physiology. The research findings are expected to substantially enhance scientific understanding of this enigmatic creature. New Zealand, known as a whale-stranding hotspot, has recorded over 5,000 such events since 1840. Previous spade-toothed whale remains were found on Pitt Island in 1872, an offshore island in the 1950s, and Robinson Crusoe Island in 1986.