A potential new species of beaked whale was discovered off the coast of Baja California, Mexico, in November 2020 by an international team of researchers. The team, a collaborative effort between scientists from Mexico and the United States, published their findings in Marine Mammal Science. This discovery highlights the importance of the Mexico International Team’s contributions to marine biology and conservation.
Beaked whales are elusive deep-diving creatures, spending the majority of their time at depths exceeding 1,000 meters (3,200 feet) and surfacing only briefly. The Mexico international team was initially searching for Perrin’s beaked whale, a species known only from stranded remains and a distinctive underwater sound. While aboard the R/V Martin Sheen, provided by the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, the researchers encountered three unidentified beaked whales approximately 50 miles off the Baja California coast.
The whales’ unique color patterns and body shape didn’t match any known species. Jay Barlow, a research scientist at NOAA’s Southwest Fisheries Science Center, stated, “We had all the guidebooks of known whales and we crossed them off, one after another, until we were not left with anything. We don’t know what it is.” This realization sparked excitement about a possible new species discovery.
The Mexico international team acted quickly, deploying acoustic recorders to capture the whales’ unique underwater sounds, described as a short chirp. Water samples were also collected to extract potential DNA for analysis. Confirmation of a new species requires genetic or physical evidence, such as a skull.
Lorenzo Rojas-Bracho, a researcher with Mexico’s National Commission of Protected Areas, emphasized the significance of the region: “It is clear that the Baja California Peninsula and the waters off the coast of California are important beaked whale areas.” He highlighted the crucial role of international collaboration in research and conservation efforts.
The research, funded by the U.S. Navy and facilitated by Sea Shepherd, faces the challenge of limited data. Elizabeth Henderson, a bioacoustic scientist with the U.S. Navy, acknowledged the frustration while expressing optimism about future data collection opportunities. A return trip is planned for the fall.
One of the whales, believed to be a male, displayed a protruding tooth in its jaw, a key characteristic for beaked whale identification. Acoustic data suggests a small population range confined to a 100- by 300-mile area off Baja’s west coast. Barlow noted the implication of this limited range: “They must be small in number, or they would have been found before.” The team is reviewing existing acoustic data to identify potential past misidentifications.
Beaked whales are specialized predators, primarily feeding on deep-water squid. Their prey’s slow movement and lack of predators in the deep ocean make them easy targets. Barlow describes this as a successful and behaviorally consistent survival strategy.
The Mexico international team will examine museum specimens for potential misidentified matches and plans to return to the area later this year to collect tissue samples for genetic analysis. Three new beaked whale species have been identified in the last three decades, sometimes after prior encounters by whalers or naturalists. Perrin’s beaked whale, suspected to inhabit Southern California waters, remains undocumented alive, identified solely through genetic analysis of initially misidentified carcasses.
The researchers suggest that more undiscovered beaked whale species may exist, likely to be encountered in the field before formal description. This underscores the ongoing need for research and collaboration by the Mexico international team and others in the field. The discovery of this potential new species highlights the rich biodiversity of Mexican waters and the importance of continued exploration and conservation efforts.
