From 1800 to today, only six specimens have been documented by humanity
Last Thursday, July 4, a team from the New Zealand Department of Conservation was notified of the presence of a specimen of whale stranded on Otago beach, near the Foz do Taiari region.
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A team was sent and after inspection and consultations with experts, they found that it was a male sword-toothed whale — one species considered rare. For Gabe Davies, DOC’s chief operating officer, the animal, even lifeless, will help in many significant scientific discoveries.
“Swordtooth whales are one of the least known large mammal species of modern times. Since 1800, only 6 specimens have been documented worldwide, and all but one have come from New Zealand. From a scientific and conservation perspective, this is huge.”
The male, almost five meters long, was removed from the body Otago Beach by Trevor King Earthmoving. The animal is now in a refrigerated warehouse, so that its remains can be preserved.
The Department of Conservation of New Zelandtogether with other specialist organisations such as Te Rūnanga ō Ōtākou, are working to develop the best way to research the species. “It is important to ensure that this [bicho] be demonstrated through the shared learning journey,” said Te Rūnanga ō Ōtakou President Nadia Wesley-Smith.
Genetic samples have already been sent to the University of Auckland for testing.
The sword-toothed whale is considered rare, as it has only been seen a few times by humanity, which has made it impossible to study the species and understand more about it. First described in 1874, on Pitt Island, only the lower jaw and two teeth were found among the skeletal remains.
Two more specimens were found in Chile, also poorly preserved, but which allowed science to confirm the existence of a new species. The last two discoveries, made in the Bay of Plenty and north of Gisborne, helped to further describe the coloration and size of the species.
The recently found copy of the sword-toothed whale It is currently in a refrigerated warehouse, where it will be stored until the next phases of study and conservation are decided.
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Source: Terra
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