WHALES 



Subfamily Balaenopterinae 

 Genus Balaenoptera 



Common Finback 



Whale. — Balaenoptera physalus 



(Linnaeus) 



General Description.— A large Whale reaching a length of 

 65 feet or more; head flat; body slender; small, curved dorsal 

 fm present; pectoral fin small and narrow; longitudinal furrows 



Fig. 126. Finback Whale 



on throat and breast ; baleen short and coarse ; black to black- 

 ish brown above and on sides, belly white; spout quick and 

 energetic, high and columnar; inspiration accompanied by a 

 peculiar and characteristic sound audible for a considerable 

 distance; active in habit and sometimes plays about ships; 

 when "sounding" it may heave its flukes out of water and 

 assume a nearly vertical position; seen singly or in small 

 numbers. 



Geographical Distribution. — Atlantic and Pacific oceans. 



vSpecies of the Genus Balaenoptera 



Common Finback. — BalcBnoptera physalus (Linnaeus). 

 As described above. 



Pollack Whale; Rudolphi's Rorqual. — Balcsnoptera borealis 

 Lesson. 

 More robust in body than physalus; dorsal fin large and 

 falcate. Rare in American waters; recorded from coasts of 

 Florida and Virginia. 



Pike Whale ; Little Piked Whale ; Least Rorqual. — Balcenop- 

 tera acutorostrata Lacepede. 

 Body more robust than in physalus; pectoral fins small, 

 dorsal fin quite high, with strongly curved tip; upper jaw 

 acutely narrowed anteriorly. Total length, 20-30 feet. 

 Found in North Atlantic; south to coast of New England; 

 New York and New Jersey. 



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