Eubalaena glacialis

• Main Authors: Russell A. Mittermeier, Don E. Wilson
• Format: Other/Unknown Material
• Language: unknown
• Published: Lynx Edicions 2014
• Subjects: Biodiversity; Taxonomy; Animalia; Chordata; Mammalia; Cetacea; Balaenidae; Eubalaena; Eubalaena glacialis; Balaena glacialis; Greenland; Iceland; Nordkaper; North Atlantic; North Atlantic right whale; North Cape
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6595821; http://treatment.plazi.org/id/03A187BA202AFF8CFFD5CFF5FDA72AE5

1. North Atlantic Right Whale Eubalaena glacialis French: Baleine noire / German: Atlantik-Nordkaper / Spanish: Ballena franca del Atlantico Other common names: Biscayan Right Whale, Black Right Whale, Nordcaper, Northern Right Whale Taxonomy. Balaena glacialis Müller, 1776, North Cape, Norway. This species is monotypic. Distribution. N Atlantic, ranging from feeding areas used from spring to autumn (including Gulf of Maine, Bay of Fundy, and as far N as Nova Scotia) to the latewinter birthing grounds along the SE coast of North America (off Florida and Georgia), as well as sightings in the Gulf of Mexico and off Bermuda to the S; there are occasional records from Greenland, Iceland, and Norway. In the E Atlantic, historical records range S to Cintra Bay (23° N), Western Sahara. Descriptive notes. Total length 1500-1650 m; weight up to ¢.70,000 kg. As is true of the other species of right whales, the North Atlantic Right Whale is of enormous size. All species in the family Balaenidae are sexually dimorphic, with females growing slightly larger than males. It is generally black. Some individuals may have white areas ventrally on throat and abdominal region. Blubber layer is very thick, ¢.15-20 cm. Stout and stocky, girth of the North Atlantic Right Whale may be greater than 60% of total length. Proportionately large head can be roughly one-third of body length. Blowhole openings, positioned posteriorly on head, are widely separated from one another and angle slightly to the sides, causing spout to form a V-shaped spray 5 m high. Rostrum is narrow, elongate, and markedly arched. There are ¢.200-270 (average 250) thin baleen plates, each ¢.300 cm long. Baleen is gray-brown to black or and is fringed with long, fine, gray bristles. Lower lips form a pronounced arc, closing over baleen on each side of rostrum. Eyes are located just above apex of mouth on either side. Callosities are present on head in patterns that vary among individuals but in generally consistent locations, including behind blowhole, along rostrum, ...