First record of Fin whale Balaenoptera physalus (Linnaeus, 1758), for the Mexican Caribbean

Background. Until 2015, the aquatic mammal’s biodiversity in the Mexican Caribbean was unknown, but was in that year when 18 species were confirmed to be distribute in this region, none of them a Rorcual species. Goals. The aim of this work is to report the first sighting of a Balaenopteridae whale...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: García-Rivas, María Del Carmen, Blanco-Parra, María Del Pilar, Castelblanco-Martínez, Delma Nataly, Niño-Torres, Carlos Alberto
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana 2019
Subjects:
Common Rorcual
Isla Contoy
New record
Quintana Roo
Stranded
Western Caribbean
Caribe oriental
evo registro
nuevo registro
rorcual común
varamiento
Balaenoptera physalus
Fin whale
Online Access:https://hidrobiologica.izt.uam.mx/index.php/revHidro/article/view/1365
https://doi.org/10.24275/uam/izt/dcbs/hidro/2019v29n1/Garcia
Description
Summary:Background. Until 2015, the aquatic mammal’s biodiversity in the Mexican Caribbean was unknown, but was in that year when 18 species were confirmed to be distribute in this region, none of them a Rorcual species. Goals. The aim of this work is to report the first sighting of a Balaenopteridae whale in the Mexican Caribbean. Methods. CONANP patrolling activities at the National Park Isla Contoy were conduced. Results On 2th August 2018, a stranded-live whale was found. The animal was identified as a ~18m (in length) fin whale Balaenoptera physalus (Linnaeus, 1758). Conclusions. This note is the first confirmed record of this species in the Mexican Caribbean increasing the list of confirmed aquatic mammal species distributed in this region. Antecedentes. Hasta 2015 la biodiversidad de los mamíferos acuáticos en el Caribe mexicano era desconocida, pero en ese año se confirmó la distribución de 18 especies en esta región, ninguna de ellas una especie Rorcual. Objetivos. El objetivo de este trabajo es reportar el primer avistamiento de una ballena Balaenopteridae en el Caribe mexicano. Métodos. Se llevaron a cabo actividades de patrullaje de la CONANP en el Parque Nacional Isla Contoy. Resultados. El 2 de agosto de 2018, se encontró una ballena varada la cual se identificó como una ballena de aleta Balaenoptera physalus con una longitud de 18 m. Conclusiones. Esta nota es el primer registro confirmado de esta especie en el Caribe mexicano y aumenta la lista de especies confirmadas de mamíferos acuáticos distribuidas en esta región.

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