Rare Beached Whale Excites Scientists

One of the rarest of whales, the Beaked Whale has long been sought after by scientists and researchers to learn about the elusive species. Recently one of these animals washed up dead onto the shore of Redhead Beach in Australia. This specimen has scientists very excited as it gives them some extra information, valuable information about the species and whales in general.

The Beaked Whale is unique in many ways. It avoids humans hence it’s rarity, it above all other mammalian species can dive and hold it’s breath at record levels. Some have been recorded at diving to depths of over 9,000 feet and holding it’s breath to over 135 minutes or so. These abilities make it even more interesting just to see what physiological changes it needs to go through to survive at such depths. Scientists will want to figure out how they doing, why they do it. Are they escaping predators or are they hunting or mating at such depths?

This information won’t be known until we’re able to observe them in the wild and only a captured Beaked Whale with a camera on its back is going to figure this one out. In the meantime, the whale that was found will be dissected and examined from head to tail fin. Parts of it will be sent to various facilities to examine and DNA will be taken as well. Useful data gleaned will be how does the animal use oxygen when diving, what does it eat? Are there factors regarding the changing environment that could endanger the species?

Scientists will try to figure out these and many other questions regarding this particular species of whale.

In addition, the examination of this species will give insight to its environment in the deep waters. What predators and prey are out there? Are the temperatures level or fluctuating? How about the diseases and perhaps pollution?

One can bet that every inch of this animal is going to studied on down to it’s atomic structure.