Australian Biological Resources Study

Australian Faunal Directory

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Family BALAENOPTERIDAE


Compiler and date details

December 2010 - Updated by Stephen M. Jackson, c/- Queensland Museum, Brisbane, following Van Dyck & Strahan (2008)

31 December 1998 - J.L. Bannister (1988); updated by Barry J. Richardson (1999), Centre for Biostructural and Biomolecular Research, University of Western Sydney, Hawkesbury

Introduction

Six balaenopterid species (five rorquals and the humpback whale) are known from Australian waters. T

hey have short, broad baleen plates which usually are continuous anteriorly. The mandibles are distinctly bowed outwardly. Externally, the throat has numerous parallel grooves. The dorsal fin is present, but small. The rostrum of the skull is broad and flat and the cervical vertebrae unfused.

Varyingly gregarious, the group includes the fastest of all whales. Tropic-polar migrations occur in all except one species. Although krill comprises the dietary staple, small schooling fish also may be eaten. Formerly abundant, most species have been hunted and their populations greatly reduced.

 

History of changes

Note that this list may be incomplete for dates prior to September 2013.
Published As part of group Action Date Action Type Compiler(s)
11-Jun-2024 11-Jun-2024 MOVED
11-Jun-2024 11-Jun-2024 MOVED
16-Dec-2010 16-Dec-2010 MODIFIED
12-Feb-2010 (import)