Australian Biological Resources Study

Australian Faunal Directory

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Family BALAENIDAE


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

Two of the four species of right whales occur in Australia waters.

The head comprises one-fourth to one-third the total length. Teeth are absent, instead 230-360 long, flexible baleen plates are present on each side of the upper jaw. The rostrum is arched and narrow. The cervical vertebrae are fused.

Slow swimming and non-migratory, the right whales feed primarily on minute decapod crustaceans, obtained by straining water through the baleen plates. Formerly abundant, these whales (except Caperea) have been heavily hunted because of their great oil yield and their populations are 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)
16-Dec-2010 16-Dec-2010 MODIFIED
12-Feb-2010 (import)