According to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, the gigantic skull of an unknown species washed up onto the ocean shores on Memorial Day.
You never know what you are going to find on the beach after a storm! Our State Park Police found this skull at Island Beach State Park on Monday. As soon as we identify it, we’ll let you know.
For now, do you have any guesses? pic.twitter.com/huuHiBl70z
— New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (@NewJerseyDEP) June 2, 2021
“You never know what you are going to find on the beach after a storm! Our State Park Police found this skull at Island Beach State Park on Monday. As soon as we identify it, we’ll let you know,” NJDEP wrote on Twitter. “For now, do you have any guesses?”
The skull was found by State Park Police near the A2 beach access path after the storm. They quickly got it to some experts who were able to identify what it belonged to. Later that same day, they posted again on social media confirming that it was the skull of a Minke whale.
Details About The Minke Whale
Minke whales are the second smallest of the baleen whale species. Upon reaching adulthood, males whales measure an average of 23ft and females whales stretch to about 26ft. However, they have been reported to be 30-35ft long and weigh up to 10 tons.
The colors of the whales are black or dark gray on top and white underneath. They breathe three to five times at short intervals before diving deep for two to 20 minutes. They are very fast and are capable of swimming at speeds of up to 35 mph. Minke whales typically live for 30-50 years and in some cases 60.