On July 30th, 2011, a rare species of whale was found deceased and stranded on a beach of Ukibaru Island, Uruma City in Okinawa. Research teams from the Okinawa Churashima Foundation and the Japan Fishery Research and Education Agency collaborated to analyze its appearance, bone structure, and DNA (genetic information) and the results showed that the species was a Longman’s beaked whale, which is a very rare type of whale. The individual was a young male 4.8 meters in length. It was the third specimen found in Japan. Previously an individual was found in Kagoshima, and another in Hokkaido. This was the first reported case of this species stranding in Okinawa. The new information about the species was published in an international journal. We recreated the entire skeleton of this individual and it is currently on display in the Churaumi Plaza at the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium. This is the only complete skeleton of a male Longman’s beaked whale in the world (As of June 2021). This specimen is created and displayed using a unique method where the bones are not damaged, but rather preserved for future osteological research. The research produced valuable information shedding light on the mysterious ecology of this species.

A deceased Longman’s beaked whale was found stranded on the beach (Left image). The only complete skeleton of a male Longman’s beaked whale in the world (Right image).

Authors

Nozomi Kobayashi, Koji Tokutake, Hideyoshi Yoshida, Haruna Okabe, Kei Miyamoto, Haruka Ito, Naoto Higashi, Shingo Fukada, Kei Yamazaki, Suguru Higa, Isao Kawazu, Keiichi Ueda (Bold letters: Staff members of Okinawa Churashima Foundation)

Title

The First Stranding Record of Longman’s Beaked Whale (Indopacetus pacificus) in Okinawa, Japan.

Journal

Aquatic Mammals

DOI

10.1578/AM.47.2.2021.153