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Mexico: a new species of beaked whales discovered off Baja California?


Scientists from the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society announced in early December that they may have discovered a new species of beaked whales off the coast of Mexico.

When the NGO Sea Shepherd does not track whaling, it discovers new species. American scientists from the organization announced on December 8 that they believed they had identified a previously unknown beaked whale evolving off the Mexican peninsula of Baja California.

The expedition, conducted in mid-November, aimed to study the cetaceans present in the waters surrounding the San Benito Islands. The team had been tracked by an unidentified acoustic signal previously recorded in the area. The researchers then took photos, made videos and deployed a specialized underwater microphone to record the sound signature of these marine animals, when three mysterious specimens approached the boat …

“It was like falling on a unicorn!”

“We saw something new. Something that was not expected, something that does not correspond, neither visually nor acoustically, to what we know, said scientist Jay Barlow in a press release. It’s like going in search of the last behemoth on the planet and stumbling upon a unicorn! It gives me chills when I think we may have accomplished what most people think is impossible: find a large mammal that exists on this earth that is totally unknown to science. “

The researchers of the mission are “very confident” : for them, it is indeed a whole new species of whale. They are nevertheless waiting for the results of further genetic analyzes to sand the champagne.

Baja California, a life-size aquarium

You might learn from our report on Baja California in the December GEO issue: it’s one of the best spots to see the giants of the seas. The waters of the Baja California are home to thirty-three species of marine mammals, twenty-eight of which are cetaceans (maybe twenty-nine, then!) The smallest is the Pacific porpoise, endemic to the Sea of ​​Cortes and virtually extinct despite efforts for its backup. The largest, gray, blue and humpback whales, are easily observable in winter and early spring.

???? In pictures: Baja California by van and family.

Subscribe ! © Ingram / Photononstop.

Prague, Czech capital where nature abounds. Around, a region of mountains and forests, castles and legends. Our reporters explored the green heart of Europe. Also included in the December GEO: the magic of saris, global warming in Greenland, a survey of honey bees and a fabulous Mexican road trip. To be discovered on newsstands and in digital version from November 25, 2020.

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Read also :

⋙ A new species of beaked whale discovered off the coast of Japan
⋙ The stress of the beaked whale in the face of military sonar
⋙ Blue whales show encouraging comeback in South Georgia
⋙ Researchers have managed to decipher the songs of blue whales
⋙ California: a whale “swallows” two kayakers … before spitting them out!

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