Scientists Identify Fanged Sea Creature Washed Ashore in Namibia
A strange-looking, nearly 20-foot-long sea creature washed ashore at Dorob National Park in Namibia last week. Scientists identified the creature as a Cuvier’s beaked whale, a species that hasn’t been seen in Namibia since 2000.
Cuvier’s beaked whales are rarely seen alive, so finding one on land is a very rare event. These whales can be found all over the world in temperate, subtropical, and tropical waters. They weigh up to 6,800 pounds and can grow up to 23 feet long.
The whale’s body was too decomposed to determine the cause of death, but scientists believe that the cracked and broken jawbone happened after death. Cuvier’s beaked whales are listed as “least concern” on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, but they face some threats, including entanglement in fishing gear, collisions with ships, and human-caused noise.
Cuvier’s beaked whales are one of the deepest diving animals, plunging to depths of up to 3,300 feet. They use sound to find food, communicate with each other, and navigate.
