The Spade-Toothed whale is believed to be the world's rarest species of beaked whale. The species was identified in 1986, when a Spade-Tooth whale skull was found beached in Chile. However, in 2010 two whole specimens were found stranded on Opape beach, New Zealand, the first time compete specimens have been found. DNA analysis of the three finds identified they were of the same species, allowing biologists to officially name the species M.traversii, or the Spade-Toothed whale. The appearance of the whale was only described in 2012, and nothing is known about their behaviour, although it is predicted to be similar to other beaked whales.