Researchers Think They Found New Kind of Whales
2020-12-11
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1Researchers believe they have found a previously unknown kind of whale in waters off Mexico's western coast.
2If others confirm the finding, the new whale would be an important discovery among giant animals.
3The team of researchers came upon three unusual whales while following a rare group of beaked whales on Nov. 17.
4The whales were near Mexico's distant San Benito Islands, about 500 km south of the U.S. border.
5Beaked whales usually avoid contact with humans.
6Jay Barlow studies sea animals at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography in San Diego.
7He said, "These animals popped to the surface right next to the boat."
8He noted that it was a very unusual meeting.
9"It's very rare to even see a beaked whale, and to find a friendly group of beaked whales, it's even rarer," he said.
10Barlow said he and other researchers did not realize they were seeing a possible new kind of whale until later.
11The group, led by the non-profit Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, saw something different about the whales' teeth when they studied photos they took of the animals.
12The underwater recordings of the whales' calls also suggested they were different from all others.
13The researchers are now waiting for test results on water they collected near the whales.
14There could be skin cells in the water from the whales.
15If so, they will examine the DNA to confirm whether the whales are a new species.
16Beaked whales get that name because of their pointy noses.
17They live mostly in waters far away from the mainland, such as off the San Benito Islands.
18Though up to 5 meters long, they can be hard for scientists to see.
19That is because they usually swim and eat at depths of around 914 meters.
20They only come up at times for air.
21In the deep water, the animals can stay away from their main enemy, killer whales.
22Andrew Read is a marine biologist at Duke University.
23He said, "The fact that they were looking for a very rare whale, and that they happen to find something completely different, is remarkable and wonderful, and just the joy of doing science. That's what we all live for."
24Read said that finding a new species is a rare event.
25Barlow's team has evidence about the whales that looks like a new discovery.
26Read said the DNA testing would help confirm it.
27Barlow was hopeful about the chance of confirming the beaked whales as a new species.
28That would bring the number of known beaked whale species to 24.
29Barlow said the whales are as big as a horse.
30He noted that it is hard to imagine people not seeing something that big on land, "But there's a lot of mysteries in the sea."
31I'm Jill Robbins.
1Researchers believe they have found a previously unknown kind of whale in waters off Mexico's western coast. If others confirm the finding, the new whale would be an important discovery among giant animals. 2The team of researchers came upon three unusual whales while following a rare group of beaked whales on Nov. 17. The whales were near Mexico's distant San Benito Islands, about 500 km south of the U.S. border. Beaked whales usually avoid contact with humans. 3Jay Barlow studies sea animals at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography in San Diego. He said, "These animals popped to the surface right next to the boat." 4He noted that it was a very unusual meeting. "It's very rare to even see a beaked whale, and to find a friendly group of beaked whales, it's even rarer," he said. 5Barlow said he and other researchers did not realize they were seeing a possible new kind of whale until later. The group, led by the non-profit Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, saw something different about the whales' teeth when they studied photos they took of the animals. The underwater recordings of the whales' calls also suggested they were different from all others. 6The researchers are now waiting for test results on water they collected near the whales. There could be skin cells in the water from the whales. If so, they will examine the DNA to confirm whether the whales are a new species. 7'Mysteries in the sea' 8Beaked whales get that name because of their pointy noses. They live mostly in waters far away from the mainland, such as off the San Benito Islands. 9Though up to 5 meters long, they can be hard for scientists to see. That is because they usually swim and eat at depths of around 914 meters. They only come up at times for air. In the deep water, the animals can stay away from their main enemy, killer whales. 10Andrew Read is a marine biologist at Duke University. He said, "The fact that they were looking for a very rare whale, and that they happen to find something completely different, is remarkable and wonderful, and just the joy of doing science. That's what we all live for." 11Read said that finding a new species is a rare event. Barlow's team has evidence about the whales that looks like a new discovery. Read said the DNA testing would help confirm it. 12Barlow was hopeful about the chance of confirming the beaked whales as a new species. That would bring the number of known beaked whale species to 24. 13Barlow said the whales are as big as a horse. He noted that it is hard to imagine people not seeing something that big on land, "But there's a lot of mysteries in the sea." 14I'm Jill Robbins. 15Cassandra Garrison reported on this story for Reuters. Jill Robbins adapted it for Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. 16_________________________________________________________________ 17Words in This Story 18previously - adv. happening before the present time 19species - n. biology : a group of animals or plants that are similar and can produce young animals or plants 20beaked - adj. (of an animal) having a hard usually pointed part covering the mouth 21pop - v. to come from, into, or out of a place suddenly or briefly 22marine - adj. of or relating to the sea or the plants and animals that live in the sea 23What sea animals have you seen? Are there many near where you live? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section.