A rare whale which releases red ink to ward off predators was found washed up on a beach.
The adult male pygmy whale was found on Pendine Sands in Carmarthenshire on Wednesday.
In the 29 years that the UK Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme (CSIP) has been recording beachings, it is only the 14th whale its kind of be found in the UK and the third in Wales.
More than 16,000 dolphins, porpoises and whales were found in that time.
The dead mammal measured 2.48 metres long, which is on the short side of things for an adult.
Not a huge amount is known about the pygmy whales' habitat, although the UK is believed to be the northern most end of its range.
It is one of just two whales which releases ink.
As a means to ward off predators it squirts out the red liquid, which is produced from faecal matter.
The animal had one eye missing, which was likely pecked out by birds.
The CSIP will now examine the body at the Zoological Society of London.
Its project manager Rob Deaville said: "It probably ended up in Carmarthenshire because the area is flat, gently shelving and very tidal.
"We think that it was nutritionally challenged as it was slightly thin and there was no evidence of recent ingestion of prey.
"They usually eat squid and octopus and there were round circular marks around its mouth which would suggest this. We found a lot of hair-like parasites and multiple squid beaks in its stomach.
"There was a lot of froth in its airway which would suggest that it was a live stranding. It died probably because it was alive when it was stranded."
The marine biologist said an autopsy would determine how the animal died.
Mr Deaville said: "We’re looking at different possibilities – chemical contaminants in the environment, physical pollution such as plastics, noise pollution from shipping and certain offshore industries, bycatch from fishing, or a different cause of death altogether.”
Anyone who comes across a dead whale, dolphin or porpoise is urged to contact the CSI programme by visiting UKstrandings.org
Any live strandings should be reported immediately to the RSPCA.
