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Balaenoptera omurai Wada, Oishi & Yamada, 2003
The first identification of Balaenoptera omurai, unusually late for such a large animal, was not until 2003. However, towards the end of the 1970s, a number of whales were already caught that differed from the previously known species on the basis of appearance and genetic fingerprint.
In 1998, a medium-sized whale carcass was discovered in the Sea of Japan that was similar in appearance to the fin whale (Balaenoptera physalis), but much smaller.
Morphological, osteological, and mitochondrial DNA data were evaluated with the result that these 9 whales were distinct from all known baleen whale species. Due to the large head, small number of baleen plates, and due to the distant molecular relationships to all other conspecifics, this cetacean species was christened "Balaenoptera omurai", where Balaenopteridae stands for rorquals or baleen whales.
The species name "omurai" honors that of the late Japanese cetologist H. Omura for his contribution to cetacean research.
Unfortunately, much data on this whale is still insufficiently studied, so it is not even known exactly what the omura whale eats in detail, we assume that its diet will consist of fish and small crustaceans such as krill.
About the distribution: the occurrence in Brazil comes from a single beached whale, the main distribution area of the Omura whale is Asia and Indonesia / Australia.
The main predator besides humans is the killer whale (Orcinus orca).
The first identification of Balaenoptera omurai, unusually late for such a large animal, was not until 2003. However, towards the end of the 1970s, a number of whales were already caught that differed from the previously known species on the basis of appearance and genetic fingerprint.
In 1998, a medium-sized whale carcass was discovered in the Sea of Japan that was similar in appearance to the fin whale (Balaenoptera physalis), but much smaller.
Morphological, osteological, and mitochondrial DNA data were evaluated with the result that these 9 whales were distinct from all known baleen whale species. Due to the large head, small number of baleen plates, and due to the distant molecular relationships to all other conspecifics, this cetacean species was christened "Balaenoptera omurai", where Balaenopteridae stands for rorquals or baleen whales.
The species name "omurai" honors that of the late Japanese cetologist H. Omura for his contribution to cetacean research.
Unfortunately, much data on this whale is still insufficiently studied, so it is not even known exactly what the omura whale eats in detail, we assume that its diet will consist of fish and small crustaceans such as krill.
About the distribution: the occurrence in Brazil comes from a single beached whale, the main distribution area of the Omura whale is Asia and Indonesia / Australia.
The main predator besides humans is the killer whale (Orcinus orca).
