Published on Apr 28, 2013
This is a slideshow of a series of photos taken at Pukehina Beach Bay of Plenty in Apr 13. The huge marine creature washed up after a storm. It had been attacked by something in the water. The locals are not sure what it is although it has stimulated lots of discussion.
Photos were sent to the Department of Conservation and Kelly Tarlton's aquarium. "It has proven difficult to get any confirmation" according to Luana Lovell-Dewes (one of the quad bikers who found the carcass) but then Anton van Helden, an expert on marine mammals (my search revealed that he is most probably the Collection Manager of Marine Mammals at Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa), identified the "whatsit" using the fin which points to an killer whale. The teeth of an Orca (Orcinus orca) and an false killer whale (Pseudorca crassidens) are very similiar without further analysis so maybe this was the reason why the fin shape was used for further identification. The source: http://www.3news.co.nz/Prehistoric-animal-mystery-solved/tabid/1160/articleID/296049/Default.aspx
ReplyDeleteThis is some kind of toothed whale like a killer whale or a piolet whale. Its not a beaked whale.
ReplyDeleteYes. Appologize me, but what's your point? Do you wanted to reaffirm it again? Or has anyone claimed the contrary and I overlooked it? Neither anyone in the article nor I have claimed that its a beaked whale.
ReplyDeleteI first followed the notification and answered to this posting. Only later I read the short note of today from Jon about his correction.
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