Nothing is as it seems: genetic analyses on stranded fin whales unveil the presence of a fin-blue whale hybrid in the Mediterranean Sea (Balaenopteridae)

• Published in: The European Zoological Journal
• Main Authors: Fioravanti T., Maio N., Latini L., Splendiani A., Guarino F. M., Mezzasalma M., Petraccioli A., Cozzi B., Mazzariol S., Centelleghe C., Sciancalepore G., Pietroluongo G., Podesta M., Caputo Barucchi V.
• Other Authors: Fioravanti, T., Maio, N., Latini, L., Splendiani, A., Guarino, F. M., Mezzasalma, M., Petraccioli, A., Cozzi, B., Mazzariol, S., Centelleghe, C., Sciancalepore, G., Pietroluongo, G., Podesta, M., Caputo Barucchi, V.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2022
• Subjects: Fin whale; Balaenopteridae; genetics; hybrid; Tyrrhenian Sea; Rorqual; Balaenoptera musculus; Balaenoptera physalus; baleen whales; Blue whale; North Atlantic
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/11588/892886; https://doi.org/10.1080/24750263.2022.2063426

The fin whale Balaenoptera physalus is a large rorqual species occurring worldwide, mainly in temperate and subpolar zones. In contrast to many baleen whales, not all the fin whale populations show the same model of migration. In fact, migratory behaviours of this latter species range from long seas...