Southern Ocean Cetacean Environment Program (SOCEP)

Australian Antarctic Cetacean Stranding Network (AACSN)
8 January 2000

Ari Friedlaender, Vic Peddemors, Bec Pirzl, and Julie Barnes were flown into Lake Barkell, adjacent to the Colbeck Archipelago, in Mac.Robertson Land to investigate the remains of a whale skeleton that had been reported by expeditioners at Mawson as early as 1986. Once the remains were located, the team set to identifying the species of whale. After some discussion and consultation, it was decided that the remains were that of a Minke whale (Baleanoptera acutorostrata). The team took measurements of several different bones that will be useful to experts back home if the species allocation comes into question. Scattered around a 200 metre radius were the skull (reasonably intact), the lower left mandible, several ribs, three vertebrae, and the left scapula. The distal tip of the skull had been weathered away, so its overall length could not be determined. There were no biological tools remaining to help determine the age of the animal, but the dimensions of the skull can be useful for putting the animal into a relative age class. Not surprisingly, the cause of death for this animal was not determined. For all involved, the trip proved to be a wonderful experience, hopefully representative of many more exciting and scientifically valuable excursions to investigate cetacean strandings on the Antarctic continent.

View of the skull as it was found, ventral surface facing up. The two maxilla are detached. The lower left mandible can also be seen.
Ari and Bec begin taking measurements while Vic and Julie record data.
Measuring the width of the skull. Note the two large nasal openings above the tape.

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