BALAENIDAE, Gray, 1821

Russell A. Mittermeier & Don E. Wilson, 2014, Balaenidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 4 Sea Mammals, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 186-215 : 186

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.6595811
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6595815
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03A187BA-2028-FF8F-FEEC-CC4FF82229E7
treatment provided by	Diego
scientific name	BALAENIDAE
status

Treatment

Family BALAENIDAE View in CoL

(RIGHT AND BOWHEAD WHALES)

• Very large, rotund baleen whales with girths and heads sometimes more than 60% and about 33% oftotal body length, respectively, broad, smooth backs with no dorsal fins or ridges, and large flukes and paddle-like flippers.

• 1500-2000 cm. View Figure

• Arctic, North Pacific, North Atlantic, and Southern oceans. View Figure

• Mainly near shore and continental shelf, but also continental slope areas.

• 2 genera, 4 species.

• 2 species Endangered; none Extinct since 1600.