Whales in the Gulf of Mexico were once believed to be a population of Bryde's whales, when they are, in fact, a completely unique species.
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The Rice's Whale
In January 2019 a rare whale washed ashore in the Florida everglades. The whale, then known to be from a population of Bryde's Whales, was thought to be its own species. Smithsonian scientists carefully transported the whale carcass across the country to the Smithsonian whale warehouse so that it could be properly studied. After examining the skeleton, researchers determined the whale was not a Bryde's whale. Several features on the whale's head, including the bone around the blowhole, were significantly different from other Bryde's whales. They named this whale the Rice's whale. Follow along in this slide show to see how the whale made its way from the everglade shores to the Smithsonian.
Rice's Whale
Credit: NOAA
Beached in the Everglades
Credit: Florida Fish and Wildlife CommissionThe 38-foot male whale washed up along Sandy Key in the Florida Everglades in January 2019. Smithsonian scientist John Ososky quickly advocated for the specimen to be transported to the Smithsonian so that its skeleton could be studied and help determine whether it was indeed a new species.
Whale Excavation
Credit: National Marine Fisheries ServiceNOAA transported the whale from the island to Fort De Soto Park in St. Petersburg, Florida where the whale was buried in sand to prevent animal scavengers. The burial was only temporary while a more permanent site could be found to finish the decomposition process. Tide levels at the site were not ideal for decomposition, and the salt water would damage the skeleton if left buried for too long.
A Whale Burial
Credit: Bonehenge Whale CenterThe skull of the whale being unloaded from a trailer after arriving at the Bonehenge Whale Center in North Carolina. The skeleton was reburied above ground in composting material — hay, wood chips and manure — so that the specimen would decompose neatly, leaving the bones easier and less odorous to handle and store.
Examining the Whale
Credit: Smithsonian InstitutionScientists with NOAA and the Natural History Museum examine the whale skeleton in the museum's massive whale vault. This specimen is now considered the Rice's whale holotype, meaning it is the specimen all other potential Rice's whales will be compared to.
Rice's Skull
Credit: Smithsonian InstitutionRice’s whales can weigh up to 60,000 pounds (that is 30 tons), which is about five times as heavy as an elephant, and they can grow up to 42 feet long. The skull in particular differentiates it from closely related species like the Bryde's whale.
Rice's Dive
Credit: NOAAThe Rice's whales have a dark coloration with a small dorsal fin on their back. They live far off shore and are very rarely seen.
A Giant from Above
Credit: NOAAThere are only about 100 individuals in the Rice's whale population, making the species a critically endangered species. The biggest threats to the species include vessel strikes, ocean noise, energy exploration, development and production, oil spills and responses, entanglement in fishing gear, and ocean debris. As the only baleen whale to live exclusively in American waters it has been nicknamed America's whale.