Researchers say they spotted new whale species

A group of researchers that set out to sea around Mexico's Western coast last month (November 17), spotted three unusual animals below the surface.

They looked like giant mammals, and only popped up to the surface briefly but the scientists were quick enough to snap some photos.

They didn't realize at the time they were looking at a what may be an undiscovered species of beaked whales.

Jay Barlow, a marine mammal biologist, described the encounter:

"We saw something new, something that was not expected in this area, something that doesn't match either visually or acoustically anything that it is known to exist."

When Barlow and his colleagues studied their photos, they noticed that the whales' teeth were unusually placed.

Underwater recordings also suggested the whales' calls were unique.

The beaked whales, named for their pointy, dolphin-like snouts, can reach up to 5 meters long, but can be hard for scientists to observe, as they tend to swim and feed mostly at depths of around 3000 feet.

The animals stay at these depths as they have a better chance of avoiding their main predator, killer whales.

"They were investigating the hydrophone that we put in the water. It was the most amazing encounter with beaked whales that I have ever had."

The scientists, with the non-profit Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, are now awaiting the analysis of water samples that could hold skin cells for possible DNA testing, to confirm whether the whales are a new species.

The mammals were spotted near the remotes San Benito Islands, about 300 miles south of the U.S border.

If confirmed, this discovery would bring the number of known beaked whale species to 24.