WELLINGTON, New Zealand (NEWSnet/AP) — Spade-toothed whales are the world’s rarest, with no live sightings recorded.

No one is certain how many exist, what they eat or where they live in the southern Pacific Ocean.

Scientists in New Zealand may have caught a break.

On Monday, the nation’s conservation agency said a creature that washed ashore recently on a South Island beach is believed to be a spade-toothed whale. The five-meter-long creature, a type of beaked whale, was identified by its color patterns and the shape of its skull, beak and teeth.

Hannah Hendriks, marine technical adviser for Department of Conservation, said almost nothing is known about the species.

“This is going to lead to some amazing science and world-first information,” Hendriks said.

If the cetacean is confirmed to be the elusive spade-toothed whale, it would be the first specimen found in a condition to permit scientists to dissect it.

Only six other spade-toothed whales have been pinpointed, and those found intact were buried before DNA testing could verify identification, Hendriks said.

This time, the whale was transported to cold storage and researchers will work with local Maori iwi (tribes) to plan how it will be examined, the conservation agency said.

The conservation agency said genetic testing could take months.

Follow NEWSnet on Facebook and X platform to get our headlines in your social feeds.

Copyright 2024 NEWSnet and The Associated Press. All rights reserved.