Spade-toothed Whale

The Spade-toothed Whale is the rarest beaked whale on earth. It is a spindle-shaped mammal with a dark gray or black back and a white underside. You can identify it by its prominent eye patch, dark flippers, and a triangular dorsal fin located about two-thirds down its body. Its most distinctive features are huge teeth that can reach 23 cm, shaped like the tip of a flensing spade. While adult females have been measured at 5.3 metres, males may grow slightly larger.

Finding this whale in the wild is a significant challenge as it has never been seen alive. All seven confirmed specimens were found in the South Pacific, specifically in New Zealand and Chile. It is likely a deep-water species that lives alone or in small groups. Though its behavior remains a mystery, its diet includes squid, and it presumably feeds on small fish. In terms of breeding, it is thought that young whales stay with their mothers for about one year after a year-long gestation.

Because so few individuals have ever been found, the total population of this species is completely unknown. It is protected by a memorandum of understanding for conserving cetaceans in the Pacific Islands. Potential threats include parasitic worms, which have been found in the stomachs of specimens. Additionally, males appear to engage in aggressive behavior with one another, which can cause their teeth to smooth over time.