Authorities say a dead whale has washed ashore on a southern New Jersey beach.

Officials with the Marine Mammal Stranding Center tell The Press of Atlantic City that the roughly 20-foot whale showed signs of decay when it came ashore in Ocean City on Monday. But it was not immediately clear what caused its death.

It's also not known what type of whale it was. That likely won't be known until crews can reach the animal, which will not happen until late Monday afternoon at the earliest.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)

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