Scientists suspect that the first complete specimen ever recorded of the world's rarest whale, a spade-toothed whale, died from head injuries. The 5-meter male whale was found washed up on a South Island beach in New Zealand in July. This discovery marked the first complete specimen ever recorded, as there have only been seven known sightings of this elusive species, none of them living.
The dissection of the whale revealed a broken jaw and bruising to the head and neck, leading experts to believe that head trauma may have been the cause of death. The examination also uncovered nine stomach chambers containing squid and parasitic worms, shedding light on the whale's feeding habits.
