Story: Whales

Strap-toothed whale skeleton

Strap-toothed whale skeleton

Although 11 species of beaked whales live in New Zealand waters, they are rarely seen alive. Much of the knowledge about beaked whales comes from examining their skeletons, and the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa has the largest collection of these in the world. Dr Alan Baker is examining the bones of a strap-toothed beaked whale, which has tusks. This whale was stranded in the Chatham Islands in 1980.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library, Dominion Post Collection (PAColl-7327)
Reference: EP/1981/1170/15

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Gerard Hutching, 'Whales - Beaked whales', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/7101/strap-toothed-whale-skeleton (accessed 17 April 2024)

Story by Gerard Hutching, published 12 Jun 2006