Preliminary scientific report on the Ardrossan Sperm Whales (Dec. 2014)
Catherine Kemper, Ikuko Tomo and David Stemmer (South Australian Museum)
Feb. 2015
Stranding information
One observer saw two large whales swimming in the shallows at high tide off Parara Road,
south of Ardrossan, at 1800 hrs on 7 Dec. 2014. Another observer said he watched a large
commotion in the water about 700 to 800 m south of Parara Road (and several hundred
metres from shore) late on the same day and that a group of at least 20 dolphins were jumping
over the whales and slapping them with their tails. On the morning of 8 Dec. reports were
made of six to eight whales dead on the beach. The carcasses were spread over a distance of
about 2 km, with the northern most one near the Ardrossan jetty. As word spread, people
came to view the spectacle. Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources staff
were on hand to control the site.
One of the whales, estimated to be 7–8 m, either did not fully strand or was able to get itself
off the mudflats and swim away. On 8 Dec. it was seen near Port Vincent by an oyster
farmer. It was in very shallow water and was ‘encouraged’ back into deeper water by
DEWNR staff in a DPITI boat. Photos of the animal show a deep cut or scar in the blubber
near the blowhole. It was apparently later seen near Troughbridge Island.
Photo: C. Vicente and J. Hicks DEWNR
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Summary of whale data and specimens collected
The whale numbers represent a south to north sequence with the most northerly being the whale moved from the jetty.
Museum
Sex
Total
Age
Reproduction
Specimens collected
Comments
no.
length
class
(m)
14.045
female
11.2
adult
–
Part lower jaws, all teeth
swabbed for bacteria
Skin for genetics.
14.046
female
10.0
adult
not lactating
Part lower jaws, all teeth. AMWRRO
swabbed for bacteria
sampled blubber.
Barnacles.
Skin for genetics.
14.047
female
10.7
adult
not lactating
Part lower jaws, all teeth except 5 cut
swabbed for bacteria.
out by persons unknown.
Piece of ambergris collected from near
AMWRRO may have sampled
this whale.
blubber.
Barnacles.
Skin for genetics.
14.048
female
11.0
adult
not lactating
Part lower jaws, all teeth. One upper
swabbed for bacteria.
jaw tooth (accessory).
Barnacles.
Cestode cysts from blubber.
Some squid beaks from stomach.
Skin for genetics.
14.049
female
10.6
adult
–
Part lower jaws, all teeth.
swabbed for bacteria.
Some squid beaks from stomach.
Skin for genetics.
Intestinal content sample for SARDI.
14.050
female
10.7
adult
not lactating
Full skeleton. Left bulla and periotic
swabbed for bacteria.
(mammary
in formalin.
tissue small
All teeth, plus one accessory tooth
and inactive).
from upper jaw.
Uterus and
Clitoris.
2
ovaries not
Cestode cysts.
found.
Barnacle?
Squid beaks from stomach.
Skin for genetics.
Spermaceti oil.
Intestinal content sample for SARDI.
14.051
11.1
adult
not lactating
Part lower jaws, all teeth. 13
accessory teeth from upper jaws.
Skin for genetics.
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Location of Sperm Whale carcasses on 10–12 Dec. 2015.
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Scientific studies and results
Swabs collected from the blowhole and genital slit of most whales showed no evidence of
pathological bacteria.
A subset of teeth will be sent to Vicki Hamilton for estimating the age of each whale. This is
expected to be completed towards the end of the year. Vicki will also investigate the
carbon/nitrogen isotope ratios in order to determine the broad diet range of these whales and
to get a picture of where in the Southern Ocean they are feeding. She may also subsample
the ambergris for isotope studies.
The full skeleton of 14.050 is being macerated in warm water and will be available for study
by early in 2016. It will be possible to determine if the animal was full grown (physically
mature) after it is prepared.
The ear bone from 14.050 was fixed in formalin and will be scanned by CT in order to
determine if damage occurred that could have been caused by anthropogenic sound.
The teeth from the lower jaws have been numbered in their sequence along the jaw. These
jaws will be prepared
The squid beaks collected from the stomachs of some of the whales will be identified,
preferably to species.
The genetic samples (skin) may be used by Flinders University whale researchers to
investigate the potential for population subdivision in Australian waters.
The cestode parasites will be added to the helminth parasite collection at the SA Museum and
be used in future studies by parasitologists worldwide.
The barnacles will be identified and added to the Marine Invertebrate collections at the SA
Museum and be used in future studies.
Gross pathology was carried out on only one whale (14.050) but this was hampered by
advanced autolysis. The heart looked normal and the liver and lung, although decomposed,
looked normal. Histopathology backed this observation up. The back of the skull was very
red, indicating that the whale had thrashed around on stranding. Deep haemorrhaging was
noted in several places on the body, both externally and internally. There were numerous
squid sucker scars on the skin, particularly on the head.
Most of the whales had many scars on the head, probably caused by squid suckers. There
were superficial cuts on most of the whales and we believe these were caused by razor fish on
the mudflats.
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Many scars (presumably caused by squid suckers) were seen on the heads of some of the
whales.
Photo: Yorke Peninsula Council
Note the severe bruising on the belly of this whale.
Photo: Mark Davison, DEWNR
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Display potential
The SA Museum is investigating options for putting the full skeleton on temporary display at
the beginning of 2016. A display will include interpretive materials and the results of the
some of the research listed above.
There is also an agreement with the Ardrossan Museum to return one of the lower jaws for
display there. It is likely that some of the teeth will be kept at the SA Museum, since they are
so valuable for research into the future. There is the potential to cast the teeth but this has not
yet been discussed with the Ardrossan Museum.
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