Quantcast
ZME Science
  • News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Future
  • Space
  • Features
    • Natural Sciences
    • Physics
      • Matter and Energy
      • Quantum Mechanics
      • Thermodynamics
    • Chemistry
      • Periodic Table
      • Applied Chemistry
      • Materials
      • Physical Chemistry
    • Biology
      • Anatomy
      • Biochemistry
      • Ecology
      • Genetics
      • Microbiology
      • Plants and Fungi
    • Geology and Paleontology
      • Planet Earth
      • Earth Dynamics
      • Rocks and Minerals
      • Volcanoes
      • Dinosaurs
      • Fossils
    • Animals
      • Mammals
      • Birds
      • Fish
      • Amphibians
      • Reptiles
      • Invertebrates
      • Pets
      • Conservation
      • Animal facts
    • Climate and Weather
      • Climate change
      • Weather and atmosphere
    • Health
      • Drugs
      • Diseases and Conditions
      • Human Body
      • Mind and Brain
      • Food and Nutrition
      • Wellness
    • History and Humanities
      • Anthropology
      • Archaeology
      • History
      • Economics
      • People
      • Sociology
    • Space & Astronomy
      • The Solar System
      • Sun
      • The Moon
      • Planets
      • Asteroids, meteors & comets
      • Astronomy
      • Astrophysics
      • Cosmology
      • Exoplanets & Alien Life
      • Spaceflight and Exploration
    • Technology
      • Computer Science & IT
      • Engineering
      • Inventions
      • Sustainability
      • Renewable Energy
      • Green Living
    • Culture
      • Culture & Society
      • Bizarre Stories
      • Lifestyle
      • Art and Music
      • Gaming
      • Books
      • Movies and Shows
    • Resources
      • How To
      • Science Careers
      • Metascience
      • Fringe Science
      • Science Experiments
      • School and Study
  • Reviews
  • More
    • Agriculture
    • Anthropology
    • Biology
    • Chemistry
    • Electronics
    • Geology
    • History
    • Mathematics
    • Nanotechnology
    • Economics
    • Paleontology
    • Physics
    • Psychology
    • Robotics
  • About Us
    • About
    • The Team
    • Advertise
    • Contribute
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science

No Result
View All Result
ZME Science

Home → Science

They were looking for a beaked whale. Instead, they may have found a new species

It's unlike any other known species. Still, further testing will be needed to convince everyone.

Fermin Koop by Fermin Koop
December 15, 2020
in Animals, Environment, Science

In their quest to look for a rare whale, a group of researchers believes they have instead discovered a previously unknown species off the western coast of Mexico. Even though DNA testing hasn't been confirmed yet, they're very confident.

Possibly a new species of Beaked whale. Image credit: Sea Shepherd

The researchers, working with the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, were on board a vessel on November 17 when they observed three beaked whales surfacing in nearby water. The sighting happened 100 miles north of the San Benito Islands, a group of remote islands located 300 miles from the US border.

The expedition's focus was the study of cetaceans in the waters surrounding the islands, and researchers were particularly hoping to identify a beaked whale species associated with an unidentified acoustic signal. They took photographs and video recordings of the animals and used a microphone to record the acoustic signals.

The beaked whale experts said they are “highly confident” that the photographic and acoustic evidence will reveal the presence of an entirely new whale species. They have already started analyzing the environmental genetic sampling, which they believe will prove the existence of this new species of whale.

“We saw something new. Something that was not expected in this area, something that doesn’t match, either visually or acoustically, anything that is known to exist,” said Dr. Jay Barlow, who was part of the expedition, in a statement. “It just sends chills up and down my spine when I think that we might have accomplished this.”

Back in 2018, scientists recorded an unknown acoustic signal in the waters north of the San Benito Islands. The signal was believed to have been the sound of a species called Perrin’s beaked whale, which is one of 23 known species of beaked whales found in oceans around the world. Still, there have been no live sightings of it.

The animal documented is indeed a beaked whale, but it’s not Perrin’s beaked whale or any other known species, according to the researchers. Initial analysis by the team from Sea Shepherd showed that the physical characteristics and the acoustic recording of the sighted whales don’t match known species of beaked whales.

Perrin’s beaked whale has teeth at the end of the jaw, while in the one the team spotted the teeth were further back. Similar differences were seen regarding their sizes and color patterns. “it really didn't seem to match any of the other characteristics of described beaked whales,” said Elizabeth Henderson, one of the researchers.

Takashi Fritz Matsuishi, a professor at Hokkaido University's School of Fisheries Sciences and co-author of a 2019 paper identifying another new species of beaked whale, told Mongabay it’s possible the researchers might have found a new species. But he warned it can’t be identified by DNA analysis or visual observations.

"The external morphology and osteological descriptions are strictly required," Matsuishi said, referring to the animal's physical features and skeletal structure. "That is the reason that our Sato's beaked whale [took] 6 years to be described as a new species since the publication of the paper showing the genetical difference in 2013."

While they wait for the DNA analysis, the researchers are currently working on a paper to describe the species' acoustics and morphological characteristics, which they hope to release shortly.

Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Related posts:
  1. Beaked whale reveals Africa’s tectonic secrets
  2. Beaked whale stays underwater for record-breaking 3 hours and 42 minutes
  3. Researchers looking for dark matter fail, find gold instead
  4. Whale refugees: Whale behavior still impacted by human hunts from centuries ago
  5. Why did plague doctors wear that weird beaked costume?
Tags: whale

ADVERTISEMENT
  • News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Future
  • Space
  • Features
  • Reviews
  • More
  • About Us

© 2007-2021 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Future
  • Space
  • Features
    • Natural Sciences
    • Physics
      • Matter and Energy
      • Quantum Mechanics
      • Thermodynamics
    • Chemistry
      • Periodic Table
      • Applied Chemistry
      • Materials
      • Physical Chemistry
    • Biology
      • Anatomy
      • Biochemistry
      • Ecology
      • Genetics
      • Microbiology
      • Plants and Fungi
    • Geology and Paleontology
      • Planet Earth
      • Earth Dynamics
      • Rocks and Minerals
      • Volcanoes
      • Dinosaurs
      • Fossils
    • Animals
      • Mammals
      • Birds
      • Fish
      • Amphibians
      • Reptiles
      • Invertebrates
      • Pets
      • Conservation
      • Animal facts
    • Climate and Weather
      • Climate change
      • Weather and atmosphere
    • Health
      • Drugs
      • Diseases and Conditions
      • Human Body
      • Mind and Brain
      • Food and Nutrition
      • Wellness
    • History and Humanities
      • Anthropology
      • Archaeology
      • History
      • Economics
      • People
      • Sociology
    • Space & Astronomy
      • The Solar System
      • Sun
      • The Moon
      • Planets
      • Asteroids, meteors & comets
      • Astronomy
      • Astrophysics
      • Cosmology
      • Exoplanets & Alien Life
      • Spaceflight and Exploration
    • Technology
      • Computer Science & IT
      • Engineering
      • Inventions
      • Sustainability
      • Renewable Energy
      • Green Living
    • Culture
      • Culture & Society
      • Bizarre Stories
      • Lifestyle
      • Art and Music
      • Gaming
      • Books
      • Movies and Shows
    • Resources
      • How To
      • Science Careers
      • Metascience
      • Fringe Science
      • Science Experiments
      • School and Study
  • Reviews
  • More
    • Agriculture
    • Anthropology
    • Biology
    • Chemistry
    • Electronics
    • Geology
    • History
    • Mathematics
    • Nanotechnology
    • Economics
    • Paleontology
    • Physics
    • Psychology
    • Robotics
  • About Us
    • About
    • The Team
    • Advertise
    • Contribute
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact

© 2007-2021 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.

Don't you want to get smarter every day?

YES, sign me up!

Over 35,000 subscribers can't be wrong. Don't worry, we never spam. By signing up you agree to our privacy policy.

✕
ZME Science News

FREE
VIEW