The body of a sword-toothed whale – a species so rare it has never been seen alive – appears to have washed up on a beach in New Zealand.
The remains of the obscure creature, five meters long, were found near the mouth of a river in southern Otago province on July 4, researchers said, quoted by AFP.
It was identified by marine mammal experts from the New Zealand Department of Conservation and the national museum, Te Papa, as a male sword-toothed whale.
“Sword-toothed whales are one of the least known species”
A DNA investigation has been launched to confirm its classification, scientists said.
“Sword-toothed whales are one of the least known large mammal species of modern times,” said Gabe Davies, director of conservation Otago’s coastal operations.
“Since the 1800s, only six specimens have ever been documented worldwide, and all but one has been from New Zealand,” Davies said.
“From a scientific and conservation point of view, this is huge.”
Source: www.descopera.ro
