Researchers believe they have found a previously unknown kind of whale in waters off Mexico's western coast. If others confirm the finding, the new whale would be an important discovery among giant animals. The team of researchers came upon three unusual whales while following a rare group of beaked whales on Nov. 17. The whales were near Mexico's distant San Benito Islands, about 500 km south of the U.S. border. Beaked whales usually avoid contact with humans. Jay Barlow studies sea animals at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography in San Diego. He said, "These animals popped to the surface right next to the boat." He noted that it was a very unusual meeting. "It's very rare to even see a beaked whale, and to find a friendly group of beaked whales, it's even rarer," he said. Barlow said he and other researchers did not realize they were seeing a possible new kind of whale until later.