Catches or strandings of Balaenoptera omurai

Shiro Wada

doi:10.15468/fx4v6y

Catches or strandings of Balaenoptera omurai

Citation

Wada, S. 2016. Catches or strandings of Balaenoptera omurai. Data downloaded from OBIS-SEAMAP (http://seamap.env.duke.edu/dataset/1341) on yyyy-mm-dd. https://doi.org/10.15468/fx4v6y accessed via GBIF.org on 2024-11-03.

Description

Original provider: National Research Institute of Far Seas Fisheries Dataset credits: Shiro Wada, National Research Institute of Fisheries Science Masayuki Oishi, Iwate Prefectural Museum Tadasu K. Yamada, National Science Museum Abstract: In the late 1970s eight Balaenoptera specimens of unknown identity were caught in the lower latitudinal Indo-Pacific waters by Japanese research whaling vessels. The combination of the allozyme patterns and physical maturity of the eight specimens separated them from all acknowledged Balaenoptera species. In September 1998 we collected a medium-sized baleen whale carcass on a coastal island in the Sea of Japan. This specimen and the previously collected eight specimens resembled Balaenoptera physalus (fin whale) in external appearance but were much smaller. Comparison of external morphology, osteology and mitochondrial DNA data grouped the nine specimens as a single species but separated them from all known baleen whale species. Therefore, here we describe a new species of Balaenoptera, which is characterized by its unique cranial morphology, its small number of baleen plates, and by its distant molecular relationships with all of its congeners. Our analyses also separated Balaenoptera brydei (Bryde's whale) and Balaenoptera edeni (Eden's whale) into two distinct species, raising the number of known living Balaenoptera species to eight. Purpose: The eight specimens were caught as "Bryde's whales" for the biological investigation under a special permit. Fresh appearance of whole ventral side was provided from a whale on deck of the research vessel. Supplemental information: Data are digitized from the Nature paper. The holotype belongs to the Japanese National Science Museum.

Purpose

The eight specimens were caught as "Bryde's whales" for the biological investigation under a special permit. Fresh appearance of whole ventral side was provided from a whale on deck of the research vessel.

Sampling Description

Study Extent

NA

Sampling

NA

Method steps

NA

Additional info

marine, harvested by iOBIS

Taxonomic Coverages

Scientific names are based on the Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS).

Balaenoptera omurai
common name: Omurai's Whale rank: species

Geographic Coverages

Pacific,Indian Ocean

Bibliographic Citations

Contacts

Shiro Wada
originator
position: Primary contact
National Research Institute of Fisheries Science
email: shiro.wada@jcom.zaq.ne.jp

OBIS-SEAMAP
metadata author
Marine Geospatial Ecology Lab, Duke University
A328 LSRC building
Durham
27708
NC
US
email: seamap-contact@duke.edu
homepage: http://seamap.env.duke.edu

OBIS-SEAMAP
distributor
Marine Geospatial Ecology Lab, Duke University
A328 LSRC building
Durham
27708
NC
US
email: seamap-contact@duke.edu
homepage: http://seamap.env.duke.edu

Shiro Wada
owner
position: Primary contact
National Research Institute of Fisheries Science
email: shiro.wada@jcom.zaq.ne.jp

Shiro Wada
administrative point of contact
position: Primary contact
National Research Institute of Fisheries Science
email: shiro.wada@jcom.zaq.ne.jp