Skip to main content

IMIS

A new integrated search interface will become available in the next phase of marineinfo.org.
For the time being, please use IMIS to search available data

 

[ report an error in this record ]basket (0): add | show Print this page

The world's rarest whale
Thompson, K.; Baker, C.S.; Van Helden, A.; Patel, S.; Millar, C.; Constantine, R. (2012). The world's rarest whale. Curr. Biol. 22(21): R905-R906. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2012.08.055
In: Current Biology. Cell Press: London. ISSN 0960-9822; e-ISSN 1879-0445, more
Peer reviewed article  

Available in  Authors | Dataset 

Keywords
    Mesoplodon Gervais, 1850 [WoRMS]; Mesoplodon traversii (Gray, 1874) [WoRMS]
    Marine/Coastal
Author keywords
    Mesoplodon traversii

Authors  Top | Dataset 
  • Thompson, K.
  • Baker, C.S.
  • Van Helden, A.
  • Patel, S.
  • Millar, C.
  • Constantine, R.

Abstract
    The vast expanses of the South Pacific Ocean have, until recently, concealed the identity of the world’s rarest whale, the spade-toothed beaked whale (Mesoplodon traversii). Based on the scarcity of records and the total absence of previous sightings, this species is the least known species of whale and one of the world’s rarest living mammals. Two individuals of this species, previously known from only two skull fragments and a mandible, were recently discovered beach-cast in New Zealand. Although initially misidentified, we have used DNA analysis to reveal their true identity. We provide the first morphological description and images of this enigmatic species. This study highlights the importance of DNA typing and reference collections for the identification of rare species.

Dataset
  • Thompson, K., C.S. Baker, A. van Helden, S. Patel, C. Millar and R. Constantine. 2012. The world's rarest whale. Current Biology. 22: 905-906, more

All data in the Integrated Marine Information System (IMIS) is subject to the VLIZ privacy policy Top | Authors | Dataset