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Rare ‘deep-diving’ whales spotted off Mass. coast
The New England Aquarium team recorded more than 700 marine animals off of Cape Cod during a mid-October survey.
The New England Aquarium spotted three rare “deep-diving” whales off the coast of Cape Cod.
In mid-October, the Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life aerial survey team spotted three True’s beaked whales over the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument, which is about 130 miles off of Cape Cod, the aquarium announced Oct. 30 on Facebook.
“These deep-diving whales are rarely seen at the surface and were a delight to see from the sky,” the post said.
True’s beaked whales rarely surface because of their ability to hold their breath for hours at a time, an aquarium researcher told WBZ-TV.
The whales also maintain a low profile at the surface and have an “inconspicuous blow,” making them even harder to spot, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
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True’s beaked whales are typically found in the “deep, warm, temperate waters of the North Atlantic Ocean” and at least two areas in the Southern Hemisphere, although there is minimal information about their location worldwide, per NOAA.
The whales range from 15.5 to 17.5 feet long and weigh between 2,200 to more than 3,000 pounds with the potential for female whales to be larger than the males. The lifespan of True’s beaked whales is unknown, according to NOAA.
During the survey, the team also recorded more than 700 marine animals, including seven fin whales and 402 common dolphins. In one photo shared by the aquarium, dozens of marine animals are shown at the ocean’s surface.
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