DNA analysis of 178 beaked whale samples has turned up an entirely new species: a black variation in the northern Pacific that is a rare sight even for frequent seafarers.
The samples, which included museum specimens as well as the remains of a whale found on an island in the Bering Sea, were examined by an international team of researchers that has reported its findings in the journal Marine Mammal Science.
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The new whale is colored black and tops out at about 25 feet long, fully grown. It looks a lot like the more common Baird's beaked whale, save for its smaller size and darker color.
The elusive cetacean has been out there on the water all along. But sightings of it are rare, and no one had studied it closely enough to see that it was a new species.
"Japanese whalers have known about the black form but didn't consider it a separate species," said Erich Hoyt, study co-author and research fellow with Whale and Dolphin Conservation, in a statement.
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All told, eight examples of the new species were found among the nearly 200 samples studied by the team.
"The challenge in documenting the species was simply locating enough specimens to provide convincing evidence," said lead author Phillip Morin, a biologist at the NOAA's Southwest Fisheries Science Center.
"Clearly this species is very rare and reminds us how much we have to learn about the ocean and even some of its largest inhabitants," Morin added.
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Beaked whales, with their namesake dolphin-like "noses," in general are not as well known as some other whales. They're deep divers, heading thousands of feet down to patrol undersea canyons in search of squid and unlucky, bottom-dwelling fish that might be in the neighborhood. Bigger ones can reach some 36 feet long.
In their study, the scientists noted that Japanese whalers saw the new black and the existing, more slate-gray, Baird's beaked whales as two forms of Baird's. Now the new, little-seen species points up the need for caution going forward, they say.
"The implication of a new species of beaked whale is that we need to reconsider management of both species to be sure they're sufficiently protected, considering how rare the new one appears to be," said Hoyt.
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"Discovering a new species of whale in 2016 is exciting but it also reveals how little we know and how much more work we have to do to truly understand these species," Hoyt added.
One such unknown involves the new whale's range. Samples found by the team suggest a relatively small area of operation in the northern Pacific between Japan and Alaska – the Baird's beaked whale's range is bigger, covering the northern Pacific from Japan to Baja, Calif. – but some samples had telltale tropical shark bites, suggesting the black whales may also migrate to more tropical seas.
VIEW PHOTOS: All-Black Animals:
Whether you're clicking until it hurts looking for Black Friday deals online or elbowing your way past your fellow humans in a brick-and-mortar to grab the last box of the hottest new ... something! ... on the shelves, eventually you're going to tire of all of that expending of energy, and cash. So why not ease your mind, check out some all-black creatures, and remember that nature still exists on this day of rampant consumerism? All-blackness occurs in lots of creatures, often as a rarity. Above we see an all-black caiman sneaking its way toward prey, or toward the electronics aisle for the latest new game.
Melanistic, or all-black, grey seals are extremely rare. This one was found on the Wadden Islands, off the Netherlands, in 2009. As big as it looks, it was only a few weeks old.
Black squirrels aren't exactly rare. The subset of the Eastern grey squirrel can be seen on the U.S. East Coast and some Central and Midwestern states.
Wolves can even sport the occasional coat of black.
This incredibly rare melanistic King penguin was photographed on a beach in Fortuna Bay, South Georgia, in British Overseas Territory.
Guinea pigs, too, can occur in fashionable black.
This black pine snake needs no help shopping for its meals.
A black variation on the common lizard wonders what all the fuss is about on Black Friday.
Melanistic leopards also fall under the heading of black panthers.
Melanistic jaguars are also black panthers. The "jag" is bigger and a bit sturdier than the leopard, though they look a lot alike in general.
Black crows are always up for a good haunting of a landscape.
Of course, how could we leave without saying hello to a black Labrador puppy? Is it just us, or does he look especially happy? Must be the expectation of leftover turkey in his future!