Scientists Capture First Photos of Living Ginkgo-Toothed Beaked Whales, Study Confirms the Historic Moment

In a groundbreaking discovery, researchers have successfully captured the first-ever photos of live ginkgo-toothed beaked whales. The momentous achievement took place during a research expedition off the coast of Baja California, Mexico, involving scientists from Oregon State University and the U.S. military’s Naval Information Warfare Center. The team set sail aboard the Pacific Storm research vessel in June 2024 on a mission to study the elusive ginkgo-toothed beaked whale and other rare marine species. This species is so rare that prior to this expedition, there were no documented photos of these whales alive in their natural habitat; only deceased specimens found washed up on shore.

The remarkable encounter occurred when researchers onboard the vessel observed what appeared to be juvenile beaked whales surfacing and then vanishing beneath the ocean’s surface. Photographer Craig Hayslip swiftly captured images of the marine creatures, while researcher Robert Pitman collected a tissue sample from one of the whales using a small arrow. Subsequent tests on the tissue sample confirmed that the animals were, indeed, ginkgo-toothed beaked whales, marking a historic moment in marine biology. The photos taken by Hayslip during this expedition represent the first visual documentation of these elusive whales alive in the wild.

The groundbreaking findings resulting from this research were detailed in a paper titled “First At-Sea Identifications of Ginkgo-Toothed Beaked Whale,” which was published in Marine Mammal Science in 2025. Elizabeth Henderson, a researcher at the U.S. military’s Naval Information Warfare Center and the lead author of the paper, expressed her excitement at the discovery, stating, “I can’t even describe the feeling because it was something that we had worked towards for so long. Everybody on the boat was cheering because we had it, we finally had it.” The researchers had been tracking a group of whales since 2020, recognising their unique vocalisations that were initially thought to belong to Perrin’s beaked whales, another elusive species never observed alive in the wild. After years of investigation, the team finally located part of the source of these calls – the two ginkgo-toothed beaked whales photographed by Hayslip.

The success of this research expedition was greatly facilitated by the Pacific Storm research vessel, which provided essential hydrophones to detect underwater whale calls. These equipment enabled the researchers to pinpoint the exact location emitting the distinctive call of the ginkgo-toothed beaked whales, even without visual confirmation of the animals. Beaked whales are known for their deep-sea diving behaviour, typically surfacing briefly for air before plunging back into the ocean depths. The discovery of new beaked whale species continues, with the most recent addition dating back to 2021, as reported by The Guardian.

Robert Pitman, one of the researchers involved in the expedition, shared insights into the importance of studying beaked whales, highlighting that they represent some of the largest yet least understood animals on Earth. He emphasised, “The Society for Marine Mammalogy has a list of 94 accepted species of cetaceans. A quarter of those are beaked whales, but most people have never even heard of them. These are the largest, least-known animals left on the planet.” Pitman, who has already spotted 90 of the 94 accepted cetacean species, including the ginkgo-toothed beaked whale, remains committed to his quest to observe all of these species firsthand.

Looking ahead, Pitman’s focus is now on the Perrin’s beaked whale, a species that continues to elude scientific observation in its natural environment. With ongoing research and exploration efforts, the hope is to shed more light on these fascinating and enigmatic marine mammals. The discovery of the ginkgo-toothed beaked whales serves as a testament to the importance of marine conservation and the continued exploration of our oceans. Stay tuned for more updates on marine biodiversity and fascinating discoveries in the world of marine mammalogy.