Members of the Sea Shepherd’s Conservation Society said Thursday they believe they found a new species of beaked whale during an expedition near the Pacific Coast of Mexico. Researchers sailed in mid-November with hopes of identifying the source of an acoustic signal associated with another species, known as Perrin’s beaked whale. Dr Jay Barlow, a retired adjunct professor at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, said that two beaked whales found on Tuesday looked and sounded different from the 23 other known species. The crew was about 100 miles north of San Benito Island when they made the discovery. “We wanted to find Perrin’s beaked whale. What we ended up finding was another beaked whales species. It was clear it was a beaked whale. They surfaced very close to the boat, and then they came to us,” Dr Barlow said. Researchers took three samples of water near the animals with the hope of obtaining “environmental DNA". The result of the analysed samples may help determine if the whales belong to a new species. “If our wishes come true, and if this truly is a new species of beaked whale, it will inspire future generations of scientists to want to go out and discover,” Dr Barlow said. Researchers hope to mount another expedition next year to see if they can find the new beaked whale specimens as well as Perrin’s beaked whale. Beaked whales are smaller than many other whales and have a dolphin-like nose. Their habits are little known because they often dive to great depths.
