In what would surely found a once - in - a - lifetime discovery for innovative twenty-four hours ocean scientists , a team working withSea Shepherd Conservation Societybelieve they may have stumbled across a antecedently unknown species of giant while face for beaked whales off the western seacoast of Mexico . The research ’s initial intent were to study the whales in waters surround the San Benito Islands , specifically abeaked whalewhose mintage had n’t been able to be key as it was emitting an unusual acoustic sign .
TheSea Shepherdvessel was successful in go after down its prey , when onboard research Martin Sheen spotted three beaked heavyweight surfacing in nearby waters . The group were 100 miles northerly of the islands , which are about 300 miles from the United States perimeter .
The squad direct pic and video transcription of the whales and eavesdrop on their acoustical chat using a specialized underwater mike . Upon reviewing what they happen , the squad of chair scientist in beak whale research were “ extremely confident ” that these individuals go to an unknown species . They go for that soon their appraisal will be confirmed by genetic analyses of sample taken at the time , which will definitively testify that they are indeed a new specie .
" We need to process the eDNA to see if we got any genetic stuff from the whales , and if we did , if it match any experience species of beaked whale , " said researcher on the discovery Dr Elizabeth Henderson in an email to IFLScience . " Typically , compartmentalisation of a new species also requires a “ holotype ” or skull and skeleton that provides further morphological evidence . We need to find out if a familial sample distribution will be enough to declare these whales are a new species , or if a frame is postulate . "
" We see something new . Something that was not expected in this area , something that does n’t match , either visually or acoustically , anything that is known to subsist , " say one of the research worker , Dr Jay Barlow , in astatement . " It just sends chill up and down my spine when I think that we might have accomplished what most people would say was truly inconceivable - find a large mammal that exists on this ground that is wholly unknown to science . "
Cetaceans are celebrated for their hauntingly beautiful underwater songs and each is alone to their species make it a reliable way of ID’ing animate being who are not always so easy to see . This unidentified pod of whales belong within the beak whale family , but their song does n’t meet any of those have it off to science . Their physical characteristics also do n’t match up with those of known coinage in the area , which meld with their strange song make it quite potential that they are indeed a new mintage .
" Sea Shepherd strongly believes in the vital office that scientific research plays in substantiate strong preservation activity , " said Peter Hammarstedt , Director of Campaigns forSea Shepherd , in apress exit . " To decent protect something , you have to love it ; and you’re able to not hump that which you do not bang . The discovery of a new specie of beaked giant proves how much mystery there is left to discover in the sea that our captains , crew , and inquiry partners fight to hold . ”
So , if the finding is as exciting as it sound , who will get to name it ? " If it is in fact a new mintage , we will get to name it ourselves , " said Henderson . " I would like to name it in honor of Jay Barlow , the aged scientist that was with us on the expedition , since he has spent many years studying beak giant . "
