Caperea marginata

(J. E. Gray, 1847)

Pygmy Right Whale

Taxonomy

Subclass : Theria
Infraclass : Placentalia
Magnorder : Boreoeutheria
Superorder : Laurasiatheria
Order : Artiodactyla
Suborder : Whippomorpha
Infraorder : Cetacea
Parvorder : Mysticeti
Family : Cetotheriidae
Genus : Caperea

Species status

Living
Found in the wild
Listed in MSW3 2005

Authority citation

Gray, J.E. 1847-01-29. On the cetaceous animals. Pp. 13–53 in Richardson, J. and Gray, J.E. 1844-1875. The Zoology of the Voyage of H.M.S. Erebus & Terror, under the command of Captain Sir James Clark Ross, R.N., F.R.S., during the years 1839 to 1843. Vol. I. Mammalia, Birds. E. W. Janson, London, not continuously paginated pp.

Original name as described

Balaena marginata

Other common names

Western Australian Whale

Type material

BMNH:Mamm:1846.1.22.5, BMNH:Mamm:339a, BMNH:Mamm:339b, BMNH:Mamm:339c

Type kind

syntypes

Type locality

"Inhab. W. Australia."

Biogeographic realm

Marine

Country distribution

Argentina · Australia · Chile · Falkland Islands · Namibia · New Zealand · South Africa

Taxonomy notes

has typically been included under Neobalaenidae but recent palaeontological data suggests this species is included uncer Cetotheriidae

Taxonomy notes citation

Fordyce, R. E., & Marx, F. G. (2013). The pygmy right whale Caperea marginata: the last of the cetotheres. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 280(1753), 20122645.

IUCN Red List status

Least Concern

Country distribution map

The map below provides a general overview. Most species inhabit only specific regions within countries. Hover over the highlighted regions to see the country name.

Names and synonyms

Present and past (if available) associated names to the species. Click on a name to view its details. If the list is long, scroll down to see more.

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