Whale skull found on Flagler Beach Biologists haul off skull to lab
Flagler Beach, Fla. – Beachcomers stumbled on a 400 pound whale skull tied to the Flagler Pier Thursday.
Biologists secured the skull to the pier the day before so they could later haul it off for study.
Susan Jeffers captured video of the skull in the swash with some blubber decomposing on the jaw bone.
Carcasses from whales typically sink to the seafloor and and these whale falls become food for scavengers. In this case enough fat on the bone floated it with waves pushing it ashore.
The malodorous stench of decomposing tissue was overbearing as ten people lifted the 8 foot long skull into the back of a pickup.
It was taken to Marineland's conservation field office where Biologist George Biedenbach said it is an adult whale but the type of species is not yet know.
Copyright 2018 by WJXT News4Jax - All rights reserved.
Family divided: News4JAX reporter Sophia Vitello good-naturedly grapples with her mom's Bills fandom ▶ 0:59
Family divided: News4JAX reporter Sophia Vitello good-naturedly grapples with her mom's Bills fandom
Buffalo Bills fans make their presence known ahead of Sunday's playoff showdown ▶ 0:37
Buffalo Bills fans make their presence known ahead of Sunday's playoff showdown
Capt. Duval came over from London and shares his love for the Jags and the people of Duval County ▶ 0:55
Capt. Duval came over from London and shares his love for the Jags and the people of Duval County
Mayor Donna Deegan welcomes Buffalo fans but predicts they'll be going home sad ▶ 0:58
Mayor Donna Deegan welcomes Buffalo fans but predicts they'll be going home sad
Jaguars Jeopardy: Do you know as much about the Jags as our contestants? ▶ 1:12
Jaguars Jeopardy: Do you know as much about the Jags as our contestants?
Airport therapy dogs win over Bills fans in Jacksonville | 'Best welcome we've ever had' ▶ 0:43
Airport therapy dogs win over Bills fans in Jacksonville | 'Best welcome we've ever had'
Last call for Nights of Lights! ▶ 0:29
Last call for Nights of Lights!
Jags superfan from London explains his fandom ▶ 0:49
Jags superfan from London explains his fandom
Jaguars fans across 'Duuuval' are ready to take on the Buffalo Bills ▶ 0:51
Jaguars fans across 'Duuuval' are ready to take on the Buffalo Bills
Liam Coen's father, Tim, has been his inspiration throughout career ▶ 1:39
Liam Coen's father, Tim, has been his inspiration throughout career
Man dies, another rescued after boating accident on Crescent Lake, FWC says ▶ 1:11
Man dies, another rescued after boating accident on Crescent Lake, FWC says
Jaguars fans are hyped for Sunday's playoff game ▶ 0:53
Jaguars fans are hyped for Sunday's playoff game
News4JAX tailgate ahead of the Jaguars playoff game ▶ 1:47
News4JAX tailgate ahead of the Jaguars playoff game
Inflammatory comments made by Clay County School Board member addressed at Thursday meeting ▶ 1:31
Inflammatory comments made by Clay County School Board member addressed at Thursday meeting
Jacksonville protesters call for justice after ICE agent shoots, kills woman in Minnesota ▶ 0:43
Jacksonville protesters call for justice after ICE agent shoots, kills woman in Minnesota
Protesters gather outside Clay County School Board meeting to call for Robert Alvero's resignation ▶ 1:19
Protesters gather outside Clay County School Board meeting to call for Robert Alvero's resignation
Moment of silence held outside Duval County Courthouse for woman killed by ICE in Minneapolis ▶ 0:08
Moment of silence held outside Duval County Courthouse for woman killed by ICE in Minneapolis
Community rallies behind Jacksonville father after wife’s tragic death following birth of 6th child ▶ 0:44
Community rallies behind Jacksonville father after wife’s tragic death following birth of 6th child
Breakdown of Jaguars Wild Card matchup against the Buffalo Bills ▶ 1:27
Breakdown of Jaguars Wild Card matchup against the Buffalo Bills
Foggy start to Thursday ▶ 0:35
Foggy start to Thursday
JTA approves program to lower fares for bus systems, remove all costs to ride NAVI shuttles downtown ▶ 0:31
JTA approves program to lower fares for bus systems, remove all costs to ride NAVI shuttles downtown
Breakdown of Jaguars Wild Card matchup against the Buffalo Bills ▶ 1:27
Breakdown of Jaguars Wild Card matchup against the Buffalo Bills
Superstitious Jaguars fan refuses to take down old Halloween decoration because they keep winning ▶ 0:50
Superstitious Jaguars fan refuses to take down old Halloween decoration because they keep winning
Nassau County woman trying to help after learning school lunch debt is up to $200K ▶ 0:51
Nassau County woman trying to help after learning school lunch debt is up to $200K
Service and therapy dogs to greet Bills fans at JAX ahead of game ▶ 0:35
Service and therapy dogs to greet Bills fans at JAX ahead of game
Previous photo Next photo