A team of researchers has stumbled upon a rare species of sea creatures off the coast of Antarctica. They found several whales that had not been spotted by them for decades. They are the Arnoux’s beaked whales that are extremely hard to find.
While conducting a survey in the waters of Antarctica, the researchers caught them taking a slow swim, the Miami Herald reported. No detailed studies have ever been done on Arnoux’s beaked whales since they are barely seen. According to a study published in the journal Marine Mammal Science, these whales inhabit the waters off Antarctica throughout the year.
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The species of whale is known for its brilliant diving abilities and can measure up to around 30 feet long. They have dark bodies and resemble dolphins in appearance. The researchers spotted the whales while surveying the Weddell Sea in 2022. They were looking for the top predators in the area when they noticed the whales swirling in the waters.
They photographed three groups of animals swimming near sea ice from the helicopter. “In all three groups, the animals were quietly logging or slowly swimming in parallel position at or just below the surface, sometimes diving under ice,” researchers affiliated with Dutch, German and Australian research institutions said.
Why are Arnoux’s beaked whales rare
Notably, in the 11 expeditions conducted in the area between 1988 and 2018, scientists had never spotted the whales.
However, several non-official and unpublished observations of the whales have been made in the area over the years. But no one knew for sure if they existed and if the sightings were true.
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They likely missed detection on account of their lengthy dives as the whales are known to go in sometimes for over an hour.
“The chances of being detected from moving platforms like ships and especially airplanes or helicopters are affected by the exceptional dive capacities of Arnoux’s beaked whales,” researchers said.
However, the recent discovery shows that the Arnoux’s beaked whales reside in the waters of Antarctica and might be present in larger numbers than previously thought. The study hints at their existence in shallow, icy areas.
NOTE – This article was originally published in wionews and can be viewed here
Tags: #animlas, #antarctica, #climate, #environment, #getgreengetgrowing, #gngagritech, #greenstories, #ice, #nature, #seaanimals, #waters
