‘Rare’ and ‘elusive’ deep-sea creatures spotted in Atlantic Ocean, photos show

A mysterious group of deep-sea whales was just spotted near a remote archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean — for the first time in years.

The marine creatures — Gervais’ beaked whales — were seen off the coast of Portugal’s Madeira Islands on Sept. 7, according to a Facebook post from Magic Dolphin, a local ecotourism agency.

“Yesterday we met one of the ocean’s most elusive residents,” the post said.

In a photo released by the company, a pair of the whales can be seen breaching the choppy surface, pointing their smooth, tapered heads into the air.

“There were five individuals observed, which was truly remarkable — especially considering the last time we encountered this species was seven years ago,” a company spokesperson told McClatchy News.

“Like most beaked whales, they are deep divers, hunting squid and deep-sea fish at depths of more than 1000 meters,” the post said. “They are rarely seen at the surface, spending only a few minutes breathing before disappearing again into the depths.”

The company added that “much of what we know about this species comes from strandings.”

Also known as Antillean or Gulf Stream beaked whales, the species is typically found in warm and deep areas of the Atlantic Ocean, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Described as both “cryptic and skittish,” little is known about the species’ population range and distribution.

The gray-colored animals are quite large, growing up to 17 feet in length and weighing up to 2,640 pounds, per NOAA. They lack prominent features, making them difficult to distinguish from their close relatives.

They’re usually found on their own or in small groups, and, as noted by Magic Dolphin, they tend to feed on squid, as well as shrimp and small fish species in the deep ocean.

“Like other beaked whales, they are vulnerable to naval sonar, which can disrupt their deep-diving behavior and lead to mass strandings,” the company said. “Plastic pollution and entanglement in fishing gear also pose serious risks.”

In June, a mother-calf pair of Gervais’ beaked whales washed ashore in Florida, McClatchy News previously reported.

The Madeira Islands are about 650 miles southwest of mainland Portugal.

This story was originally published September 9, 2025 at 5:42 PM with the headline "‘Rare’ and ‘elusive’ deep-sea creatures spotted in Atlantic Ocean, photos show."