A spade-toothed whale, never seen alive, in New Zealand: See the majestic creature

Marine biologists are examining the remains of what's believed to be a spade-toothed whale , one of the planet’s rarest marine mammals, which washed ashore on a New Zealand beach on July 4.

The discovery is significant because the 16-foot-long whale, one of the scarcest of species, has never been seen alive. Since 1874, only six specimens have ever been found, according to the New Zealand Department of Conservation.

Biologists have put the whale in cold storage while testing its DNA for identification. Results could take weeks.

Little is known about the rare whale, also known as a spade-toothed beaked whale .

Where was the rare whale found?

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The newly discovered whale is part of a group of mammals called beaked whales , which consist of 21 species , according to the December 2012 issue of Current Biology . New Zealand has 13 beaked whale species, including the spade-toothed whale, the report says.

Researchers hope the discovery could provide new information about the species. Genetic samples from the whale were sent to the University of Auckland for tests and a dissection is possible if an identification is positive.

Part of the difficulty in identifying beaked whales is that it's hard to tell them apart by just looking at them, Current Biology says. DNA analysis and other tests are used to determine the species.

Beaked whales live on squid and small fish. They're believed to be deep-diving creatures that don't spend much time on the ocean surface, the report says. With its deep trenches, the South Pacific is a favorable habitat.

Three whale specimens were found previously in New Zealand and Chile, says Whale and Dolphin Conservation USA, a wildlife charity. The whales are thought to live in the South Pacific or Southern Hemisphere, the organization says.

What do spade-tooth whales look like?

How large are spade-tooth whales compared to others?

With its long coastline, New Zealand has one of the highest rates of whale strandings, Current Biology says.

The whale recently found was discovered at the mouth of the Taiari River , in the Otago province located on New Zealand's South Island, the BBC reported.

The Māori , an indigenous people of New Zealand, believe the whales are sacred. New Zealand officials said Maori communities would be consulted in deciding what to do with the whale, the BBC said.

Contributing: Saleen Martin, USA TODAY

Source: USA TODAY Network reporting and research; Reuters; New Zealand Department of Conservation; Current Biology

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: A spade-toothed whale, never seen alive, in New Zealand: See the majestic creature