Elusive deep-sea ghost finally revealed: Scientists photograph mysterious ginkgo-toothed whale

Decades-Old Ocean Enigma Solved as Rare Beaked Whale Surfaces (Image: Canva)

Researchers have captured the first live images of the elusive ginkgo-toothed beaked whale, solving a 60-year mystery linked to the BW43 acoustic signal. DNA analysis confirmed the species’ identity, revealing adults reach seventeen feet and inhabit deep-water canyons off California and Baja California year-round. Males show scars from combat, females appear lighter, and fan-shaped teeth are used for fighting, not feeding. The discovery improves understanding of behaviour, habitat, and conservation needs, allowing scientists to monitor this rare deep-sea predator without visual contact.

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Marine researchers have captured the first live photographs of the ginkgo-toothed beaked whale, ending a mystery that has lasted for more than sixty years. The images were recorded during a June 2024 expedition off northern Baja California, finally confirming the appearance, behaviour, and habitat of a species previously known only from washed ashore remains.

Decoding a deep-sea signal

For decades, scientists detected a strange high-frequency sound while monitoring deep ocean waters. The signal, known as BW43, peaked at forty-three kilohertz and appeared regularly in recordings. Researchers knew the sound belonged to a beaked whale, but no species could be identified. This uncertainty limited conservation work, because beaked whales surface briefly and are mostly studied through sound rather than sight.

In 2020, a research team began focused expeditions using a vessel equipped with long hydrophone cables. These underwater microphones helped track clicking whales in real time. When BW43 pulses were detected, observers scanned the surface using binoculars, waiting for short surfacing moments.

Male ginkgo-toothed beaked whales possess a single pair of teeth shaped like a ginkgo leaf. (Image: ©Jörg Mazur / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons)

The first confirmed encounter

In June 2024, BW43 clicks were heard moments before several whales surfaced close to the research ship. Scientists photographed the animals alive for the first time. A biopsy dart collected a skin sample, but a curious albatross attempted to steal it. Crew members distracted the bird with food, allowing recovery of the sample.

DNA testing confirmed the whales were ginkgo-toothed beaked whales, solving a sixty-year identification puzzle. The discovery linked BW43 directly to the species, transforming a biological mystery into a documented animal.

Life in deep-water canyons

The research revealed that ginkgo-toothed beaked whales are powerful deep-sea divers. Adults reach about seventeen feet in length and weigh over four thousand kilograms. Males appear darker and show scars from fights, while females are lighter and unmarked. The species has fan-shaped teeth used for competition rather than feeding.

Acoustic records show these whales are likely year-round residents of deep canyons off California and Baja California. This finding is vital for protection, as beaked whales are extremely sensitive to naval sonar. Identifying their unique sound allows scientists to monitor populations remotely and reduce risks from underwater noise, marking an important step in safeguarding one of the ocean’s most elusive mammals.