On Wednesday, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection shared pictures of a giant whale skull, asking the public to guess its identity on social media. The state agency later confirmed that the skull belongs to a minke whale, with the lower jaw still attached. The pictures have garnered a lot of attention. But what exactly is the story behind the skull?
Minke whale
During a recent storm, sand washed away from a beach in Berkeley, New Jersey, exposing a minke whale’s skull. Thankfully, the skull was relatively intact. It is now being stored in an educational area. Minke whales are about 20,000 pounds and can grow up to 35 feet long.
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection asked the public for help identifying the skull. The department posted a photo of the skull along with a description of the whale’s identity. People on social media were left wondering if it was the skull of a Minke whale. Thankfully, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection was able to confirm the identity of the skull.
The minke whale is not a threatened species, but their mortality rate has increased on the east coast in recent years. The young minke whale washed ashore in Island Beach State Park in September. It was later euthanized. The whale had become trapped between Sandy Hook Bay Marina’s docks.
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection has identified the skeletal remains as a minke whale skull. The minke whale skull was washed ashore in New Jersey during a storm. The bones were found in the sand at Island Beach State Park. After the storm, state park police officials confirmed that the skull was the lower jaw of a minke whale.
The common minke whale is the smallest baleen whale found in North American waters. It can reach a length of 35 feet and weigh up to 20,000 pounds. Female minke whales are often larger than males. Their dorsal fin is sickle-shaped and their undersides are white. Their mouths have a white band in the middle of the mouth. They also have between 22 and 38 abdominal pleats along their throat.
Humpback whale
A humpback whale skull washed up on a beach in New Jersey several years ago. Later it was buried, but a recent violent nor’easter washed away a foot of sand, exposing the bones. The bones are about 20 yards from the water.
The state park police discovered the skull on Monday after storms in the area. They have not yet identified the exact species of the animal, but they have asked people on social media for guesses. One user suggested it could be the skull of a small humpback whale. Another suggested it was from a baleen whale. Others joked that it could be the head of a pterodactyl, which is the smallest baleen whale.
Finding the exact cause of a whale’s death is a complicated process. The bones of the dead animal are very decomposed and there is no way to tell if it was drowned. The New Jersey State Police Marine Services, the Marine Mammal Stranding Center, and the coastguard all coordinated to move the humpback whale carcass to a back bay where there is no boat traffic.
The humpback whale is endangered. The whales migrate to the West Indies and North America. A 2002 study suggests that the Mid-Atlantic may serve as an additional feeding ground for humpback whales. The M&T Bank is sponsoring an exhibit on the humpback whale.
The scientists who are tracking the whales are trying to identify their vocalizations. Some whales communicate by clicking, while others use loud sounds. But humpbacks are known for their songs, which are used for mating rituals and establishing territories. Songs last for 20 minutes or more.
The skull of the whale was a challenge to obtain. It was too big to fit in a pickup truck. It had to be transported in a flat trailer pulled by a truck. It was over eight feet long and weighed 280 pounds without jawbones. The museum took care to transport the humpback whale skeleton safely. The skeleton contains the skull, right jawbone, three sections of the spine, and a flipper. It was displayed to educate and attract visitors.
Pterodactyl
This massive animal skull washed ashore on a beach in New Jersey after a storm. It was discovered at Island Beach State Park and has sparked social media debate. While some have claimed it’s a dinosaur skull, others believe it’s actually a pterodactyl skull.
The state department of environmental protection posted a photo of the bone on its Facebook page and requested help identifying it. The photo showed the massive bone reaching to a police officer’s waist. Immediately, the announcement sparked speculation about what the fossil could be. Many speculated that it could be a part of a small humpback whale skull or a baleen whale skull, while others joked that it could be a pterodactyl head.
The state of New Jersey’s Marine Mammal Stranding Center believes the skull is a minke whale. While scientists are not certain what buried it in the area, it was found in a similar location to last year’s find. The state of New Jersey says that whales are found on its beaches every year, and it’s thought that nearly 100 of these animals died on the state’s beaches. The weight of these enormous animals makes them difficult for humans to carry.
The skull was discovered at Island Beach State Park in New Jersey. The police officer who discovered the skull was astonished by the size and shape of the skull. He added that he had never seen anything like this before. The state has since identified the skull as the lower jaw of a minke whale.
Dragon
A huge dragon skull was left on a beach in England by Blinkbox, a streaming video service. The skull was left in honor of the upcoming season of the hit television show Game of Thrones. The skull is about nine inches long and six inches wide, making it a size that would fit a modern human brain. The researchers believe that the skull belonged to a male who was about 50 years old.
The massive skull washed up on a beach in New Jersey and immediately attracted the attention of the Internet. Many people tried to identify the skull, which appeared to be that of a dinosaur, dragon, or giant bird. The Department of Environmental Protection asked people to identify it. While some thought it was from a dinosaur, others guessed that it belonged to a pterodactyl or an octopus. Eventually, the state’s Department of Environmental Protection ruled that the skull belonged to a minke whale.
