Spade-Toothed Whale: Quick Facts and Why It Matters

If you’ve ever wondered what a spade‑toothed whale looks like or where it lives, you’re in the right place. This tag page gathers the most useful info about this little‑known cetacean so you can spot it on a documentary or understand why scientists care.

Appearance and Size

The spade‑toothed whale gets its name from the flat, spoon‑shaped teeth that line its lower jaw. Unlike big blue whales, these animals stay under 6 metres long and weigh around 3–4 tonnes – about the size of a school bus. Their bodies are sleek, dark grey on top with lighter flanks, which helps them blend into deep water. The dorsal fin is small and rounded, and the flippers are proportionally large, giving them good maneuverability.

Habitat and Behavior

These whales prefer temperate to tropical waters, often hanging out near continental shelves where fish and squid are plentiful. They dive up to 500 metres to chase prey, using echolocation clicks that sound like rapid beeps. Socially, they travel in small pods of 3‑10 members, staying close to each other for protection and to coordinate hunts.

Feeding time is a show of teamwork. One whale will herd a school of fish while another circles around, snapping up any stray prey with those distinctive spade teeth. This cooperation makes them efficient hunters even in murky depths where visibility is low.

Reproduction follows a typical cetacean pattern: females give birth every 2‑3 years after about a year-long pregnancy. Calves stay close to their mothers for the first six months, learning hunting tactics and how to use echolocation effectively.

Why should you care? Spade‑toothed whales act as indicators of ocean health. A stable or growing population suggests good fish stocks and low pollution levels. Conversely, declines can signal overfishing or rising noise from ships that disrupts their sonar.

If you ever spot a spade‑toothed whale on a wildlife tour, remember these quick tips: look for the flat teeth when the animal surfaces, note the rounded dorsal fin, and listen for short click bursts if you’re near a boat with hydrophones. Sharing your sighting with local marine groups helps track their numbers and supports conservation.

In short, the spade‑toothed whale may not be as famous as humpbacks, but it plays a big role in ocean ecosystems. Knowing its size, looks, hunting habits and why it matters gives you a solid base to appreciate this sleek marine predator.