Rare footage of the True’s beaked whale has surfaced after remaining elusive for so many years.
Previously any information on the True’s beaked whale was based upon the random carcasses that would wash up on beaches – which is why the new footage is such a big deal within the marine biology community and to the wider world.
The footage was actually taken in 2013, however scientists wanted to wait until last Tuesday to confirm it’s existence as part of a new study that’s meant to offer more information on this elusive species of creature that’s rarely been spotted.
The creature appeared to students who were on an educational trip in the Azores, an autonomous region of Portugal.
One of the most identifiable traits of the beaked whale are the features on its nose, which has a dolphin-like appearance. Most of their time is spent in the deepest depths of the ocean, hence why they are rarely ever seen, thanks to thier ‘oblong, torpedo-shaped bodies’.
Apparently they can grow to be 17 feet long and enjoy eating squid and according to Buzzfeed, just like their aquatic family members ‘dive thousands of feet below the surface for hours at a time on a single breath’. Additionally to make their bodies more streamlined they tuck their fins into ‘side pockets’.
Flickr: Brydes whaleSpeaking to the Washington Post, Natacha Aguilar de Soto, who’s been studying the species said:
These are animals the size of elephants that we just can’t find. They’re a mystery…
When I saw the video, I just couldn’t believe it. I thought, ‘My god, these are True’s beaked whales.’
The footage and a new case study of the True’s beaked whale were published on the PeerJ so if you want to feel smart and impress your mates with your general knowledge you know where to go.
