Megaptera novaeangliae (humpback whale) - CCSN-04-224

Abstract

Megaptera novaeangliae (humpback whale) - CCSN-04-224 - NUVC 8394 - female - 13.40 m - Pelvic location - University of Georgia. The fresh carcass of a 44-foot (1340 cm), 6-year-old female named “Beacon” washed ashore at Newcomb Hollow Beach, Wellfleet, MA on the Cape Cod National Seashore but the Park Service would not allow vehicle access. Dave Taylor removed both pelvic bones during the necropsy on 12 December. The cause of death was unknown. The carcass washed off the beach during a storm and was found on Nauset Beach, Orleans on ??. By this time the carcass was deflated. All of the ribs, as well as the cervical, thoracic and lumbar vertebrae were missing. Two of the vertebrae were found on a beach in Wellfleet. On 5 January 2005, an effort was made to salvage the skull and jaws by hand and with a truck winch in bitter, blowing sleet, but only the jaws could be salvaged. A section at the left rear of the cranium was missing. Around 8 January the carcass washed off again and was eventually found well up into Eastham Harbor where it lodged on a gravel bar and was iced in for the winter. In the spring it washed ashore up against a private pier about 200 yards east of the Orleans rotary. On 11 May the Eastham Natural Resource Officer, Henry Lend and others pulled it into deeper water and anchored it. On 14 May it was towed to a nearby boat ramp where we salvaged the slightly damaged skull, both flippers, and the caudal vertebrae. The skull measures about 11.5 feet long and 6.5 feet wide. Skeleton was given to Northeastern University.