Recovering the bones from a live-stranded neonate blue whale in Mexico

In January, 2022, on a remote beach in Sinaloa, Mexico, artisanal fishers found a live-stranded 31’ neonate blue whale. It died on the beach.

Keith Rittmaster of the Bonehenge Whale Center and the NC Maritime Museum was asked to lead a collaborative and diverse team in recovering the skeletal remains for study and possible display, which he gladly did.

“In the face of many logistical challenges, I felt privileged to work with such a bright, dedicated, talented, and hardworking team,” said Rittmaster of his experience in Sinaloa. “They made me feel appreciated.”

The carcass approximately 2 weeks after the stranding

Boats, including the ~22' panga, captained by local fishers, took us to the whale carcass on each of 3 days for the work

We used shovels, knives, ropes, and teamwork to remove the bones

Keith holding the right scapula and one of the ribs

Several of the lumbar vertebrae with associated epiphsyes (growth plates)

Many bones came out pretty clean, but not all

A drone photo showing most of the bones recovered after our 2nd day of work. Unfortunately, we found no sign of upper jaw bones or left pectoral fin (flipper) distal to the humerus

Through an unlikely set of events and a bit ofluck, we hiked, then boated, then trucked with the odiferous right flipper to a veterinarian late at night who was enthusiastic to X-ray it for us

"Baby Blue" blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus, ~9 meters) right pectoral fin radiographs courtesy of Dr. Murrieta, Pet Palace, Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico

Thanks to the many volunteers, donors, and organizations represented by their logos below for their generosity and kindness in supporting this project.

The following links expand on points about the Gulf of Mexico whale in John Ososky’s talk at the University of Florida Gainesville on 31 October 2024:

For more information about marine mammal stranding networks please visit https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/marine-life-distress/marine-mammal-health-and-stranding-response-program.

Whales on the Brink Symposium, Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, November 2023

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQmxS2U3B6KaUPksTqmC2BLUPwXFEHnCN

100 Scientists Open Letter on the Gulf of Mexico whale to the Biden Administration

https://www.neaq.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Scientist-statement.-GoM-whale.-Oct.-2022.pdf

Great Whale Conservancy – Economic Value of Living Whales

The Economic Value of Living Whales | GWC | Great Whale Conservancy

To learn about the Gulf of Mexico Rice’s whale, current status, methods of research, and threats to its existence please visit: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/rices-whale

How a Whale Skull at the Smithsonian Became a Beacon for Marine Mammal Conservation

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/national-museum-of-natural-history/2023/11/16/how-a-whale-skull-at-the-smithsonian-became-a-beacon-for-marine-mammal-conservation/

Open letter regarding Cuvier’s whale and other whale common names

It’s time to rename Ziphius cavirostris the “goose-beaked whale” – CIMA Research Foundation (cimafoundation.org)

https://www.cimafoundation.org/en/news/its-time-to-rename-ziphius-cavirostris-the-goose-beaked-whale/#:~:text=The%20authors%20request%20a%20change,problematic%20legacy%20of%20Georges%20Cuvier.

We Are All Whalers by The Hopeless Idiot (soundcloud.com)

https://soundcloud.com/thehopelessidiot/we-are-all-whalers

History of whale research and conservation at the Smithsonian video playlist

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQmxS2U3B6KafwKbPd5qSunMSZjrmw908

NOAA Rice’s whale

https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/rices-whale

Last Great American Whale by Lou Reed