Scientists find new type of killer whale off coast of Chile after 14-year search

[Judi Lynn]

Originally published March 7, 2019 at 10:11 am Updated March 7, 2019 at 10:26 am



Type D killer whales from South Georgia Island, in the southern Atlantic Ocean, showing their blunt heads and
tiny eye patches. (Jean-Pierre Sylvestre / via NOAA)

A mysterious stranding of the elusive whale 60 years ago and recent photographs prompted scientists to embark on their search. They got a first live look this year.

By Christine Clarridge
Seattle Times staff reporter

A team of international scientists working off the tip of southern Chile got their first live look at what might be a new species of killer whale, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Scientists had believed that the so-called “Type D” whales — which appear to be distinct from other previously identified whale species — existed based on a stranding 60 years ago in New Zealand and from scattered tourists’ photographs and fishermen’s stories, the federal agency said in a news statement made public on Thursday.

But researchers had “never actually seen it,” said Michael Milstein, public-affairs officer for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries.

Genetic samples collected from the whale will determine whether the animal, which has a distinctly different color pattern and body shape from other whale species, is indeed new.

More:
https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/environment/scientists-find-new-type-of-killer-whale-off-coast-of-chile-after-14-year-search/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_seattle-news

[Judi Lynn]

1. Underwater video: "Watch Rare Footage of the Mysterious 'Type D' Orca"

Mar 8 2019, 11:34am
Watch Rare Footage of the Mysterious 'Type D' Orca
A NOAA expedition filmed the orcas, which have distinctive small white eye patches, off of Cape Horn, Chile.

An expedition of scientists has recorded a mysterious family of orcas, known only through rumors and a few rare sightings.

The scientists spotted the elusive "Type D" orcas off of Cape Horn, Chile, in January.

The orcas may be “the largest undescribed animal left on the planet,” said expedition lead Bob Pitman, a researcher from NOAA Fisheries’ Southwest Fisheries Science Center, in a statement.

Type D orcas are easily distinguished from other killer whales by their much smaller white eye patches. They also have more rounded heads and pointier dorsal fins compared to Type A, B, and C orcas.

More:
https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/j57nmx/watch-rare-footage-of-the-mysterious-type-d-orca-noaa