Marine scientists have confirmed the first-ever live observation and documentation of the elusive Ginkgo-toothed Whale (Mesoplodon ginkgodens), one of the rarest and least understood beaked whales. The species, previously known only from strandings, has never before been conclusively photographed or sampled alive at sea.

Beaked whales are among the ocean’s most cryptic mammals, spending long periods at depth and surfacing only briefly, often far offshore. The Ginkgo-toothed Whale is considered one of the least documented, with decades passing between confirmed stranding records. The new study provides the first scientific evidence of its appearance, behaviour and habitat in the open ocean.

First encounter at sea

The research team encountered three individuals during an offshore survey in the North Pacific. The whales surfaced quietly near the vessel, allowing unobtrusive photography and remote tissue sampling. The scientists used a lightweight biopsy crossbow—standard practice in cetacean research—to obtain a small skin sample for genetic confirmation.

Photographs show the animals’ defining characteristics: a streamlined grey body, faint scarring patterns typical of beaked whales, and the distinctive paired teeth in adult males shaped like ginkgo leaves—features that until now had been known largely from skeletal remains.

Genetic analysis confirmed the samples belonged to Mesoplodon ginkgodens, marking the first verified at-sea records of the species.

Significance

The find is significant because of the long-standing uncertainty around the species’ distribution, behaviour and population status. With only a handful of strandings worldwide, the Ginkgo-toothed Whale has remained an enigma since its description in 1991.

Seeing the species alive at sea opens the door to understanding its ecology, dive behaviour and potential vulnerabilities. Like many beaked whales, the species may be sensitive to anthropogenic noise, mid-frequency sonar and shifts in deep-water ecosystems. Without baseline data, assessing conservation needs has been challenging.

The images and genetic samples now provide a reliable reference point for future monitoring and for distinguishing this whale from similar Mesoplodon species.