Comments on: For 150 years, no one had ever seen a full spade-toothed whale. Then two wash up on a beach.

By: Frank S

Frank S — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 17:16:04 +0000

Tom O have you noticed how similar in overall shape fighter jets are? The similarity with penguins stems from having to move through water with minimum frictional resistance, i.e., streamlining. Emperor penguins add the ability to shed micro-bubbles of air trapped in feathers which further reduces friction. See the latest National Geographic.

By: Bill Stidwill

Bill Stidwill — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 13:30:11 +0000

“We’re not sure why they are so rarely seen,”

Is it possible that they are seen but mistaken for other species to which they are very similar?

By: displacingspace

displacingspace — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 21:50:04 +0000

In response to R.J.’s comment, some cetacean beaching are in fact deliberate actions made by the animals– if/when they are sick, they move to shallower waters and sometimes in desperation the beach so they can breathe. If they cannot float or stay buoyant in the water they will drown. Fish do not need to breathe air so going on land is not an option.

By: Tom Osselton

Tom Osselton — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 20:29:53 +0000

It might just be me but I can’t get over the similarities between this species and penguins if the head and tail fin was facing forward the shape of the body and placement of the fin and flippers. the pic here looks like it is just sliding on ice.

By: davem

davem — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 17:32:28 +0000

Let’s just hope that the Japanese don’t decide to ‘research’ them.

By: R. J. Redfield

R. J. Redfield — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 11:28:09 +0000

What is it with whale strandings? Whales aren’t dumb, so it’s hard to believe that they just miscalculate the tides or currents. Fish aren’t nearly as smart, but they never swim up onto beaches. Are all these whales victims of disorientation caused by human activities?

By: En la mar serena

En la mar serena — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 21:42:04 +0000

I loved this article, so I’ve translated it into Spanish: http://bit.ly/TGv7y4

By: Pete in NZ

Pete in NZ — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 20:10:39 +0000

Second to bottom item on the radio

http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport

for a backgrounder

I was reading this and listening to the radio and heard them mention spade-toothed whales, all of a sudden I’m like- “Ed’s haunting me! AAaaarrrrggghhh!”