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Neobalaenidae
pygmy right whale


By Phil Myers

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Cetacea
Family: Neobalaenidae
Members of this Family

The single member of this family, the pygmy right whale (Caperea marginata), is found in the cold-temperate waters of the southern hemisphere. Usually included in the family Balaenidae in the past, they differ from members of that family in several ways. They are small, only up to about 6 m. The body is gray, lacking the striking black and white markings common in balaenids. Caperea marginata has, however, a strikingly white mouth and tongue. It also has a small, falcate dorsal fin.

This species is poorly known. It probably does not school or migrate long distances. It is believed to feed on copepods. The species is too uncommon to have been of much importance to commercial whalers.

Neobalaenidae/*

References and literature cited:

Nowak, R.M. and J.L. Paradiso. 1983. Walker's Mammals of the World, 4th edition. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, MD.

Savage, R. J. G. and M. R. Long. 1986. Mammal Evolution: An Illustrated Guide. Facts on File Publications, UK. 251 pp.

Rice, D. W. 1984. Cetaceans. Pp. 447-490 in Anderson, S. and J. K. Jones, Jr. (eds). Orders and Families of Recent Mammals of the World. John Wiley and Sons, N.Y. xii+686 pp.

Vaughan, T. A. 1986. Mammalogy. Third Edition. Saunders College Publishing, N.Y. vii+576 pp.

Wilson, D. E., and D. M. Reeder. 1993. Mammal Species of the World, A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference. 2nd edition. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington. xviii+1206 pp.

For More Information

Find Neobalaenidae information at

Contributors

Phil Myers (author), Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan.

To cite this page: Myers, P. 1999. "Neobalaenidae" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed May 23, 2012 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Neobalaenidae.html

Disclaimer: The Animal Diversity Web is an educational resource written largely by and for college students. ADW doesn't cover all species in the world, nor does it include all the latest scientific information about organisms we describe. Though we edit our accounts for accuracy, we cannot guarantee all information in those accounts. While ADW staff and contributors provide references to books and websites that we believe are reputable, we cannot necessarily endorse the contents of references beyond our control.

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