Spade Toothed Beaked Whales: Understanding Their Behavior and Habitat

Spade toothed beaked whales are found in temperate and tropical waters around the world, with a preference for deep waters.

They are social animals, often traveling in groups of up to 50 individuals.

Their diet consists mainly of squid and other deep-sea cephalopods, which they hunt using echolocation.

Spade toothed beaked whales are capable of diving to depths of up to 3,200 meters in search of food.

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Spade-toothed whales have a relatively large beak with equally large teeth that can measure up to 9 inches.

Their body is spindle-shaped, with a triangular dorsal fin set about two-thirds the way back.

They have a small dorsal fin, located about 2/3 down their back, similar to other beaked whales.

Spade-toothed whales have a pair of small flippers, which are likely used to assist with swimming, turning, and navigating through the ocean waters.

Their grayish skin tone varies from light to dark color, with a dark-colored back, fins, flukes, and beak, as well as dark coloring around the eyes.

On a similar theme: Are Spade Toothed Whales Extinct

The under-body of spade-toothed whales appears to be a lighter gray to white coloring.

Males have large, wide teeth with an unusual denticle on the tip, which may smoothen over time due to aggressive behavior with other males.

The teeth of spade-toothed whales are much wider than those of the strap-toothed whale, and a peculiar denticle on the tip of the teeth is much more pronounced in the spade-toothed whale.

They have a dark eye patch, rostrum, and flippers, as well as a light thoracic patch created by a diagonal band that extends from behind the eye downwards and back to the dorsal fin.

Spade-toothed whales can grow up to 16-18 ft. long when fully matured, although their typical body weight is unknown.

The first known complete specimens of spade-toothed whales were a 5.3-m adult female and her 3.5-m male calf.

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Spade-toothed beaked whales are thought to be found only in the southern hemisphere and possibly just in the South Pacific.

Their habitat is primarily in the South Pacific ocean, with previous bones and whale specimens found in areas such as Chile, New Zealand, and Chatham Island.

These whales are extremely rare and live far offshore, or they are extremely good at maintaining a low profile and travel in small pod sizes with large gaps between groups.

It's likely that they are deep-water species living alone or in small groups and feeding on cephalopods and small fish.

The behaviour and ecology of this mysterious whale species are still largely unknown. It's likely the most poorly known large mammal species of modern times.

The species is thought to be similar to other medium-sized Mesoplodon, which live deep in the ocean and feed on cephalopods and small fish. These deep-water species often live alone or in small groups.

A year-long gestation period is assumed for this whale, after which the young become independent of their mothers at about one year of age. This is similar to most whales, with a roughly 73% chance of survival past year one.

It's assumed that the remaining population of this whale lives solely in the Southern Hemisphere.

Spade-toothed beaked whales are thought to be found only in the southern hemisphere and possibly just in the South Pacific.

The species has been spotted in New Zealand and Chile, but the full extent of their distribution remains unknown.

They are primarily found in the South Pacific ocean, with previous bones and whale specimens found in areas such as Chile, New Zealand, and Chatham Island.

It's likely that these whales live far offshore and/or are extremely good at maintaining a low profile, which makes them extremely rare to spot.

The inability to spot them in the ocean could also mean that they travel in small pod sizes with large gaps between groups.

Each of these assumptions should be taken lightly as very little data has been collected on these whales.

Spade-toothed beaked whales are thought to feed primarily on squid and possibly small fish.

They are deep divers, just like other beaked whales, which means they spend a lot of time underwater in search of food.

The fact that they have nine stomach chambers, like the male whale found in 2024, suggests they need to digest a lot of food to sustain themselves.

This unique digestive system allows them to efficiently process their squid and fish diet.

The spade-toothed beaked whale is covered by the Memorandum of Understanding for the Conservation of Cetaceans and Their Habitats in the Pacific Islands Region (Pacific Cetaceans MOU). This is an important step in protecting the species.

Unfortunately, the species' IUCN Red List conservation status is "Data Deficient (DD)" due to lack of information and uncertain data. This means we need to learn more about this whale before we can effectively help it.

Noise pollution is a significant threat to spade-toothed beaked whales. They are vulnerable to naval sonar and seismic activity.

Entanglement in fishing gear is also a major threat, and bycatch is likely to be one of the predominant threats to this deep-water species.

Plastic is another concern, as stranded individuals of similar species have been found with plastic in their stomachs.

Here are some of the main threats to spade-toothed beaked whales:

By supporting organizations like WDC, you can help spade-toothed beaked whales live safe and free. Together, we can create healthy seas and prevent deaths in nets.

The spade-toothed whale is a rare and elusive species, and studying it requires a combination of careful observation and scientific analysis. Specimens of this whale have been found in various locations, including Pitt Island, White Island, and Robinson Crusoe Island.

Several specimens of the spade-toothed whale have been collected and preserved in museums and research institutions. For example, the University of Auckland School of Biological Sciences MacGregor Collection has a specimen from White Island, while the Chilean National Museum of Natural History has a specimen from Robinson Crusoe Island. These specimens are crucial for scientists to study and learn more about this species.

A particularly important specimen was found on a beach near Taieri Mouth in Otago in 2024. This specimen was the most intact ever found, and it offered the first chance for dissection of a spade-toothed whale. The genetic samples from this specimen were sent to the University of Auckland for testing.

The dissection of the 2024 specimen provided valuable insights into the biology and behavior of the spade-toothed whale. The whale's upper jaw featured small, undeveloped teeth, which suggests that its diet has evolved to favor suction feeding. The team also found structures related to both feeding and sound production, which will be important for further research.

Here is a list of some of the key specimens of the spade-toothed whale:

The specimens of Mesoplodon traversii, also known as the Travers' beaked whale, are a fascinating topic.

The first specimen, NMNZ 546, was found in 1872 on Pitt Island. It's believed to be a male, possibly fully adult.

A specimen from the University of Auckland School of Biological Sciences MacGregor Collection, collected in the 1950s on White Island, is also preserved. Unfortunately, the sex of this specimen is unknown.

In 1986, a specimen was collected on Robinson Crusoe Island, and it's also believed to be a fully adult.

More recently, in 2010, a specimen was found on Opape Beach, and it's an adult female with a male calf.

The most significant specimen was found on July 4, 2024, near Taieri Mouth in Otago, and it's a male individual. This specimen is the most intact ever found and offers the first chance for dissection of a specimen.

In July 2024, a remarkably intact spade-toothed whale washed ashore in Otago, providing a rare opportunity for scientists to study the species.

The whale's DNA was sent to the University of Auckland for verification, which confirmed its identity as a spade-toothed whale.

A team led by van Helden conducted a thorough examination of the whale, which included a dissection from December 2 to December 6, 2024.

The dissection revealed nine stomach chambers, some of which contained squid remains, as well as worms and parts of other unidentified organisms.

The whale's upper jaw featured small, undeveloped teeth, which are a characteristic of the species and lost importance over time as the whale's diet evolved to favor suction feeding.

A table of the whale's anatomy highlights the unique features of the spade-toothed whale:

The scientists also found structures related to both feeding and sound production, which will help describe the species in detail and compare it to related ones.

The whale's jawbone and teeth have been given to the local Māori people, who consider the mammals a sacred treasure.

The spade-toothed whale is a rare and elusive species, and the recent discovery of one that washed ashore in Otago on July 4, 2024, has provided a unique opportunity for scientists to study it up close.

The whale's DNA was sent to the University of Auckland for verification, which confirmed its identity as a spade-toothed whale by early December 2024.

The whale's upper jaw featured small, undeveloped teeth, which is a characteristic of this species that has evolved over time.

These small teeth lost importance as the whale's diet evolved to favor suction feeding, where it uses a rapid, vacuum-like action to draw in prey like squid or small fish.

The whale's dissection revealed nine stomach chambers, some of which contained squid remains, as well as worms and parts of other unidentified organisms.

The team found structures related to both feeding and sound production, and measured and recorded the weights of various muscles and organs.

The whale's jawbone and teeth have been given to the local Māori people, who consider the mammals a sacred treasure.

The rest of the skeleton, with 3D-printed replacements for the missing parts, will be displayed at a local museum for all to admire.