A partial whale carcass that was found Sunday after it washed ashore at Waimanalo was so decomposed that marine scientists could not establish its species — or learn much else about it.

The great slab of rotting blubber and bone was removed from the beach with state Department of Transportation equipment yesterday and taken across the island to the Waimanalo Gulch landfill in Leeward O'ahu.

"It was easily 3 to 4 tons, and 15 to 20 feet long," said Jeff Walters, co-manager of the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. But the remains lacked a skull, skin or any discernable surface features.

Walters said it could not be identified by species, and NOAA Marine Mammal Response Network coordinator David Schofield said the decomposition was so far along that genetic material likely would not have been useful in establishing its identity.

"It could be a big part of a small humpback whale or a small part of a big whale, like a sperm whale," Schofield said.

Because humpbacks are common in Hawaiian waters at this time of the year, it is perhaps most likely that species, he said.

There also was no way to determine how the animal died.

If fishermen or other boaters locate such carcasses at sea, Walters said, it would be useful if they alert the marine mammal hot line at (888) 256-9840.

"That would allow us to tow it to currents that would take it away from the Islands" rather than facing the stench, health issues and difficulty of disposing of the body on land, he said.

Reach Jan TenBruggencate at jant@honoluluadvertiser.com.