Balaenoptera edeni Anderson, 1879

Jo, Yeong-Seok, Baccus, John T. & Koprowski, John L., 2018, Mammals of Korea: a review of their taxonomy, distribution and conservation status, Zootaxa 4522 (1), pp. 1-216 : 118

Balaenoptera edeni Anderson, 1879 —Bryde’s Whale

Balaenoptera edeni Anderson, 1879 p.551 ; Type locality- Burma; Kim et al., 2000 p.58; Kim, 2004 p.221.

Range: Since the first observation of Bryde’s whale in the East Sea in 1994 ( Kim 2004), four individuals were observed in Korean waters: one at Incheon in 2005, another from Ulsan in 2010 and the other two on Jeju Island in 2004 and 2009, respectively. The species also occurs in the southern and western seas near Korea ( Fig. 77 ). Also, forensic research showed that Bryde’s whales were illegally traded at Korean markets in Busan ( Moon & Ku 2000).

Remarks: The taxonomic status of the species remains debated whether 1 species, 2 species ( B. edeni & brdei complex and B. omurai ), or 3 species complex ( B. edeni , B. brydei , and B. omurai ) ( Mead & Brownell 2005). However, based on the distribution of the species in Korean waters, we consider B. edeni is the appropriate classification because the debate is based on size dimorphism ( Mead & Brownell 2005).

Conservation status: The South Korean government designated the species a Protected Marine Species in 2007. CITES lists B. edeni (and B. omurai ) under Appendix I. Based on our information, North Korea is not involved in the conservation of this whale.

Figures

FIGURE 77. Range map of Balaenoptera edeni in Korea.