Humpback  Whale  and  Rorquals  -  Family:  Balaenopteridae

Photo by Erik Beringen

---

​

Name:
Taxonomic notes:
Statistics:
Description:

Distribution:
Habitats:
Habits:
Diet:
​Reproduction:

---

            Minke  Whale  -  Balaenoptera acutorostrata

Description:
Distribution:
​Habitats:

Habits:
Diet:
Reproduction: ​

Subspecies:
Abundance:
​Conservation status:
Other names:

---

            Humpback  Whale  -  Megaptera novaeangliae 

Description:
Distribution:
​Habitats:

D 123 - D.Davey

C 950 - E.Beringen

Habits:
Diet:
Reproduction:

C 653 - E.Beringen

Subspecies:
Abundance:
​Conservation status:
Other names:

---

​      Over the years there have been numerous recorded sightings of other species in the family: Balaenopteridae.  Many of these sightings have occurred out at sea, others have been of washed up specimens, usually dead.   They are not here regarded as species that are normally seen in the Northern Rivers region and are therefor not treated as such, above.   For those that are interested, here is a list of species that could possibly be sighted off the North-East Coast of N.S.W.

Antarctic Minke Whale  -  Balaenoptera bonaerensis
Sei Whale  -  Balaenoptera borealis
Eden’s Whale  -  Balaenoptera edeni
Blue Whale  -  Balaenoptera musculus
Fin Whale  -  Balaenoptera physalus
The above list has been compiled using information available on the 'Atlas of Living Australia' website.

---

home

on to 'toothed whales parvorder: odontoceti'

top

​Taxonomy:
 
Phylum:   Chordata    (Chordates)
          > Subphylum:    Vertebrata    (Vertebrates)
                    > Class:   Mammalia    (Mammals)
                              > Subclass:   Theria    (Live-bearing  Mammals)
                                        > Infraclass:   Placentalia    (Placental Mammals)
                                                  > Superorder:   Laurasiatheria    (Ungulates,  Carnivores  and  Allies)
                                                            > Order:   Artiodactyla    (Even-toed  Ungulates  and  Cetaceans)
                                                                      > Suborder:   Whippomorpha    (Cetaceans  and  Hippopotamuses)
                                                                                > Infraorder:   Cetacea    (Cetaceans)
                                                                                          > Parvorder:   Mysticeti    (Baleen  Whales) 
                                                                                                    > Family:   Balaenopteridae    (Rorquals)
                                                                                                              > Genus:   Balaenoptera
                                                                                                                        > Species:   B. acutorostrata  -  Minke Whale
                                                                                                              > Genus:   Megaptera
                                                                                                                        > Species:   M. novaeangliae  -  Humpback Whale

---

References:

      Bryden, M., Marsh, H. and Shaughnessy, P. (1998),  Dugongs, Whales, Dolphins and Seals. A guide to the sea mammals of Australasia.  Allen & Unwin, St Leonards, N.S.W.     
​      Edgar, Graham, (2019) Tropical Marine Life of Australia, New Holland Publishers, Chatswood, N.S.W.
      Strahan, L. (Editor in Chief), (1983),  The National Photographic Index of Australian Wildlife:  The Complete Book of Australian Mammals,  Angus and Robertson, Melbourne.     
      Van Dyck, Steve, Gynther, Ian. and Baker, Andrew.  (2013)   Field Companion to the Mammals of Australia,  New Holland Publishers, Chatswood, N.S.W.
      Walton, D.W. & Richardson, B.J. (eds), (1989). Fauna of Australia. Vol. 1B Mammalia. Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra.

Links:

​      https://marinebio.org/species/minke-whales/balaenoptera-acutorostrata/
      https://australian.museum/learn/animals/mammals/minke-whale/
      https://www.environment.gov.au/marine/marine-species/cetaceans/whale-and-dolphin-watching
      ​https://www.gbrmpa.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0015/21732/gbrmpa-VA-DwarfMinkeWhale-11-7-12.pdf
      https://www.livescience.com/58464-humpback-whale-facts.html
      https://www.environment.gov.au/marine/publications/humpback-whales-eastern-australia
      https://australian.museum/learn/animals/mammals/humpback-whale/

---

Text:

Photographic  Contributions:
Beringen, Erik.                                   C 653  -  C 950.
Davey, Diana.                                     D 123.
​

---