The study identifies one of the least known beaked whales——Deraniyagala 's beaked whale (Mesoplodon hotaula) , suggesting that the South China Sea is a potentially important area for M. hotaula.

Deep diving cetaceans, such as the beaked whales, play a significant role in ecosystem functioning, not only through the popularized concept of carbon storage, but also as vertical transporters of nutrients from the depths to the sea surface, thus promoting primary productivity. However, there are huge gaps in our knowledge of beaked whales. 

By integrating DNA sequencing of skin biopsies, acoustic data, and photographs, provide the first robust field identification of M. hotaula. The discovery illustrates that M. hotaula has distinguishing acoustic and morphological characteristics, enabling to distinguish it from other mesoplodonts in the wild. The identification of M. hotaula in species level is rapidly advancing our knowledge on its distribution range, habitat characteristics, behavior, ontogenetic color pattern development, group size and structure, and potential threats. The present study provides insights to accurate species identification, distribution and behavior. Given the role of deep diving cetaceans in ecosystem functioning and the ability and permitting in place in many areas to conduct deep sea mining, this study also provides data relevant to all marine ecologists who work in deep sea habitat, and provides information critical to impact assessments, which will be increasingly required as sea bed resource extraction activities spread.

Distinct beak coloration pattern with dark rostra and pale gray mandibles for all observed males