Balaenopteridae Gray, 1864 
AphiaID: 136979

Classification: Biota > Animalia > Chordata > Vertebrata > Gnathostomata > Tetrapoda > Mammalia > Theria > Cetartiodactyla > Cetancodonta > Cetacea > Mysticeti

Status		accepted
Record status		Checked by Taxonomic Editor
Rank		Family
Parent		Mysticeti
Synonymised taxa		Physalinidae Gray, 1868 (synonym)
Sources		basis of record: van der Land, J. (2001). Tetrapoda, in: Costello, M.J. et al. (Ed.) (2001). European register of marine species: a check-list of the marine species in Europe and a bibliography of guides to their identification. Collection Patrimoines Naturels, 50: pp. 375-376 (look up in IMIS) [details] additional source: Jefferson, T.A.; Leatherwood, S.; Webber, M.A. (1993). Marine mammals of the world. FAO Species identification guide. FAO: Rome, Italy. ISBN 92-5-103292-0. VIII, 320 pp. (look up in IMIS) [details]
Vernacular Names		Language    Name   Dutch vinvissen  [details] English rorquals  [details] Norwegian Bokmål finnhvalfamilien  [details] Norwegian Nynorsk finnkvalfamilien  [details] Swedish fenvalar  [details]
All child taxa [hide all]		Genus Balaenoptera Lacépède, 1804    » Species Balaenoptera acutorostrata Lacépède, 1804    » Subspecies Balaenoptera acutorostrata acutorostrata Lacepede, 1804 » Subspecies Balaenoptera acutorostrata scammoni Deméré, 1986 » Subspecies Balaenoptera acutorostrata bonaerensis Deraniyagala, 1960 accepted as Balaenoptera bonaerensis Burmeister, 1867 » Subspecies Balaenoptera acutorostrata davidsoni Tomilin, 1957 accepted as Balaenoptera acutorostrata scammoni Deméré, 1986 » Subspecies Balaenoptera acutorostrata thalmaha Deraniyagala, 1963 accepted as Balaenoptera acutorostrata Lacépède, 1804 » Species Balaenoptera bonaerensis Burmeister, 1867 » Species Balaenoptera borealis Lesson, 1828    » Subspecies Balaenoptera borealis borealis Tomilin, 1946 » Subspecies Balaenoptera borealis schlegelii Tomilin, 1946 » Species Balaenoptera edeni Anderson, 1878 » Species Balaenoptera musculus (Linnaeus, 1758)    » Subspecies Balaenoptera musculus brevicauda Ichihara, 1966 » Subspecies Balaenoptera musculus indica Blyth, 1859 » Subspecies Balaenoptera musculus intermedia Burmeister, 1872 » Subspecies Balaenoptera musculus musculus (Linnaeus, 1758) » Species Balaenoptera omurai Wada, Oishi & Yamada, 2003 » Species Balaenoptera physalus (Linnaeus, 1758)    » Subspecies Balaenoptera physalus physalus Tomilin, 1946 » Subspecies Balaenoptera physalus quoyi Fischer, 1829 » Subspecies Balaenoptera physalus quoyii Tomilin, 1946 accepted as Balaenoptera physalus quoyi Fischer, 1829 » Species Balaenoptera andrejewi Author?, 1888 (nomen dubium, incertae sedis) » Species Balaenoptera caerulescens Lacépède, 1818 (nomen dubium, incertae sedis) » Species Balaenoptera grimmi Author?, 1888 (nomen dubium, incertae sedis) » Species Balaenoptera maculata Lacépède, 1818 (nomen dubium, incertae sedis) » Species Balaenoptera nigra Lacépède, 1818 (nomen dubium, incertae sedis) » Species Balaenoptera punctulata Lacépède, 1819 (nomen dubium, incertae sedis) » Species Balaenoptera sulcata represented as Balaenoptera sulcata arctica Schlegel, 1841 (alternate representation)    » Subspecies Balaenoptera sulcata arctica Schlegel, 1841 accepted as Balaenoptera physalus (Linnaeus, 1758) » Species Balaenoptera acuturostrata Lacépède, 1804 accepted as Balaenoptera acutorostrata Lacépède, 1804 » Species Balaenoptera alba Giglioli, 1870 accepted as Balaenoptera borealis Lesson, 1828 » Species Balaenoptera antarctica Gray, 1846 accepted as Balaenoptera physalus (Linnaeus, 1758) » Species Balaenoptera antarctica Temminck, 1841 accepted as Eubalaena japonica (Lacépède, 1818) » Species Balaenoptera antarctica Temminck, 1841 accepted as Megaptera novaeangliae (Borowski, 1781) » Species Balaenoptera aragous Farines & Carcasonne, 1829 accepted as Balaenoptera physalus (Linnaeus, 1758) » Species Balaenoptera arctica Temminck, 1841 accepted as Balaenoptera borealis Lesson, 1828 » Species Balaenoptera astrolabe Pucheran, 1843 accepted as Megaptera novaeangliae (Borowski, 1781) » Species Balaenoptera australis Gray, 1846 accepted as Balaenoptera physalus (Linnaeus, 1758) » Species Balaenoptera australis Lesson, 1828 accepted as Megaptera novaeangliae (Borowski, 1781) » Species Balaenoptera blythii Anderson, 1879 accepted as Balaenoptera physalus (Linnaeus, 1758) » Species Balaenoptera brasiliensis Gray, 1846 accepted as Balaenoptera physalus (Linnaeus, 1758) » Species Balaenoptera brydei Olsen, 1913 accepted as Balaenoptera edeni Anderson, 1878 » Species Balaenoptera capensis A. Smith, 1834 accepted as Megaptera novaeangliae (Borowski, 1781) » Species Balaenoptera carolinae Malm, 1866 accepted as Balaenoptera musculus (Linnaeus, 1758) » Species Balaenoptera davidsoni Scammon, 1872 accepted as Balaenoptera acutorostrata Lacépède, 1804 » Species Balaenoptera eschrichtius Rasch, 1845 accepted as Balaenoptera acutorostrata Lacépède, 1804 » Species Balaenoptera gibbar Lacépède, 1804 accepted as Balaenoptera physalus (Linnaeus, 1758) » Species Balaenoptera gigas Reinhardt, 1857 accepted as Balaenoptera musculus (Linnaeus, 1758) » Species Balaenoptera huttoni Gray, 1874 accepted as Balaenoptera bonaerensis Burmeister, 1867 » Species Balaenoptera indica Blyth, 1859 accepted as Balaenoptera musculus (Linnaeus, 1758) » Species Balaenoptera intermedia Burmeister, 1871 accepted as Balaenoptera musculus intermedia Burmeister, 1872 » Species Balaenoptera iwasi Gray, 1846 accepted as Balaenoptera borealis Lesson, 1828 » Species Balaenoptera jubartes Lacépède, 1804 accepted as Balaenoptera musculus (Linnaeus, 1758) » Species Balaenoptera laticeps Gray, 1846 accepted as Balaenoptera borealis Lesson, 1828 » Species Balaenoptera leucopteron Lesson, 1842 accepted as Megaptera novaeangliae (Borowski, 1781) » Species Balaenoptera mediterraneensis Lesson, 1828 accepted as Balaenoptera physalus (Linnaeus, 1758) » Species Balaenoptera mediterranensis Cabrera, 1961 accepted as Balaenoptera physalus (Linnaeus, 1758) » Species Balaenoptera microcephala Gray, 1850 accepted as Balaenoptera acutorostrata Lacépède, 1804 » Species Balaenoptera miramaris Lahille, 1898 accepted as Balaenoptera musculus (Linnaeus, 1758) » Species Balaenoptera musculus Van Beneden & Gervais, 1880 accepted as Balaenoptera physalus (Linnaeus, 1758) » Species Balaenoptera patachonica Lahille, 1905 accepted as Balaenoptera physalus (Linnaeus, 1758) » Species Balaenoptera patachonicus Burmeister, 1865 accepted as Balaenoptera physalus (Linnaeus, 1758) » Species Balaenoptera patagonica Dabbene, 1902 accepted as Balaenoptera physalus (Linnaeus, 1758) » Species Balaenoptera quoyii Lonnberg, 1906 accepted as Balaenoptera physalus (Linnaeus, 1758) » Species Balaenoptera racovitzai Lahille, 1905 accepted as Balaenoptera bonaerensis Burmeister, 1867 » Species Balaenoptera robusta Lilljeborg, 1861 accepted as Eschrichtius robustus (Lilljeborg, 1861) » Species Balaenoptera rorqual Lacépède, 1804 accepted as Balaenoptera physalus (Linnaeus, 1758) » Species Balaenoptera rostrata Van Beneden & Gervais, 1880 accepted as Balaenoptera acutorostrata Lacépède, 1804 » Species Balaenoptera schlegelii Van Beneden & Gervais, 1880 accepted as Balaenoptera borealis Lesson, 1828 » Species Balaenoptera schlegellii Dabbene, 1902 accepted as Balaenoptera borealis Lesson, 1828 » Species Balaenoptera sibbaldi Van Beneden, 1887 accepted as Balaenoptera musculus (Linnaeus, 1758) » Species Balaenoptera sibbaldii Flower, 1885 accepted as Balaenoptera musculus (Linnaeus, 1758) » Species Balaenoptera swinhoii Gray, 1866 accepted as Balaenoptera physalus (Linnaeus, 1758) » Species Balaenoptera syncondylus A. Mueller, 1863 accepted as Megaptera novaeangliae (Borowski, 1781) » Species Balaenoptera tenuirostris Sweeting, 1840 accepted as Balaenoptera physalus (Linnaeus, 1758) » Species Balaenoptera thalmaha accepted as Balaenoptera acutorostrata Lacépède, 1804    » Subspecies Balaenoptera thalmaha thalmaha Deranyagala, 1963 accepted as Balaenoptera acutorostrata Lacépède, 1804 » Species Balaenoptera velifera Cope, 1869 accepted as Balaenoptera physalus (Linnaeus, 1758)    » Subspecies Balaenoptera velifera copei Elliot, 1901 accepted as Balaenoptera physalus (Linnaeus, 1758) Subfamily Balaenopterinae Gray, 1864 Genus Megaptera Gray, 1846    » Species Megaptera novaeangliae (Borowski, 1781) » Species Megaptera americana Gray, 1846 accepted as Megaptera novaeangliae (Borowski, 1781) » Species Megaptera antarctica Gray, 1846 accepted as Megaptera novaeangliae (Borowski, 1781) » Species Megaptera australis Iredale & Troughton, 1934 accepted as Megaptera novaeangliae (Borowski, 1781) » Species Megaptera bellicosa Cope, 1871 accepted as Megaptera novaeangliae (Borowski, 1781) » Species Megaptera boops Van Beneden & Gervais, 1880 accepted as Megaptera novaeangliae (Borowski, 1781) » Species Megaptera brasiliensis True, 1904 accepted as Megaptera novaeangliae (Borowski, 1781) » Species Megaptera braziliensis Cope, 1867 accepted as Megaptera novaeangliae (Borowski, 1781) » Species Megaptera burmeisteri Burmeister, 1866 accepted as Megaptera novaeangliae (Borowski, 1781) » Species Megaptera gigas Cope, 1865 accepted as Megaptera novaeangliae (Borowski, 1781) » Species Megaptera indica Gervais, 1883 accepted as Megaptera novaeangliae (Borowski, 1781) » Species Megaptera kusira Trouessart, 1904 accepted as Megaptera novaeangliae (Borowski, 1781) » Species Megaptera kuzira Gray, 1850 accepted as Megaptera novaeangliae (Borowski, 1781) » Species Megaptera lalandii Gray, 1864 accepted as Megaptera novaeangliae (Borowski, 1781) » Species Megaptera longimana Gray, 1846 accepted as Megaptera novaeangliae (Borowski, 1781)    » Subspecies Megaptera longimana morei Gray, 1866 accepted as Megaptera novaeangliae (Borowski, 1781) » Species Megaptera longipinna Gray, 1846 accepted as Megaptera novaeangliae (Borowski, 1781) » Species Megaptera nodosa Bonnaterre, 1789 accepted as Megaptera novaeangliae (Borowski, 1781) » Species Megaptera nodosa Lahille, 1905 accepted as Megaptera novaeangliae (Borowski, 1781)    » Subspecies Megaptera nodosa bellicosa Elliot, 1904 accepted as Megaptera novaeangliae (Borowski, 1781) » Subspecies Megaptera nodosa lalandii Tomilin, 1946 accepted as Megaptera novaeangliae (Borowski, 1781) » Subspecies Megaptera nodosa nodosa Tomilin, 1946 accepted as Megaptera novaeangliae (Borowski, 1781) » Subspecies Megaptera nodosa novaezealandiae Ivashin, 1958 accepted as Megaptera novaeangliae (Borowski, 1781) » Species Megaptera novaezelandiae Gray, 1864 accepted as Megaptera novaeangliae (Borowski, 1781) » Species Megaptera osphya Mead & Brownell, 2005 accepted as Megaptera novaeangliae (Borowski, 1781) » Species Megaptera osphyia Cope, 1865 accepted as Megaptera novaeangliae (Borowski, 1781) » Species Megaptera poescop Gray, 1846 accepted as Megaptera novaeangliae (Borowski, 1781) » Species Megaptera versabilis Cope, 1869 accepted as Megaptera novaeangliae (Borowski, 1781) Subfamily Megapterinae Gray, 1864 Genus Agaphelus Cope, 1868 accepted as Balaenoptera Lacépède, 1804    » Species Agaphelus gibbosus Cope, 1968 accepted as Balaenoptera acutorostrata Lacépède, 1804 » Species Agaphelus glaucus Cope, 1868 accepted as Eschrichtius robustus (Lilljeborg, 1861) Genus Balaenopteris Tomilin, 1957 accepted as Balaenoptera Lacépède, 1804    » Species Balaenopteris guibusdam Tomilin, 1957 accepted as Balaenoptera physalus (Linnaeus, 1758) Genus Balenoptera Dumeril, 1806 accepted as Balaenoptera Lacépède, 1804 Genus Balenopterus Cuvier, 1829 accepted as Balaenoptera Lacépède, 1804 Genus Belaenoptera Lahille, 1899 accepted as Balaenoptera Lacépède, 1804    » Species Belaenoptera schlegeli Lahille, 1899 accepted as Balaenoptera borealis Lesson, 1828 Genus Benedenia Gray, 1864 accepted as Balaenoptera Lacépède, 1804    » Species Benedenia knoxii Gray, 1864 accepted as Balaenoptera physalus (Linnaeus, 1758) Genus Boops Gray, 1821 accepted as Balaenoptera Lacépède, 1804 Genus Catoptera Rafinesque, 1815 accepted as Balaenoptera Lacépède, 1804 Genus Cetoptera Rafinesque, 1815 accepted as Balaenoptera Lacépède, 1804 Genus Cuvierus Gray, 1866 accepted as Balaenoptera Lacépède, 1804 Genus Cyphobalaena Marschall, 1873 accepted as Megaptera Gray, 1846 Genus Dactylaena Gray, 1874 accepted as Balaenoptera Lacépède, 1804 Genus Dubertus Tomilin, 1957 accepted as Balaenoptera Lacépède, 1804    » Species Dubertus rhodinsulensis Tomilin, 1957 accepted as Balaenoptera physalus (Linnaeus, 1758) Genus Eubalaenoptera Aclogue, 1900 accepted as Balaenoptera Lacépède, 1804 Genus Fabricia Gray, 1866 accepted as Balaenoptera Lacépède, 1804 Genus Flowerius Lilljeborg, 1867 accepted as Balaenoptera Lacépède, 1804 Genus Kyphobalaena Eschricht, 1849 accepted as Megaptera Gray, 1846    » Species Kyphobalaena keporkak Van Beneden, 1868 accepted as Megaptera novaeangliae (Borowski, 1781) Subfamily Megapterina Gray, 1864 accepted as Megapterinae Gray, 1864 Genus Mysticetus Wagler, 1830 accepted as Balaenoptera Lacépède, 1804 Genus Ogmobalaena Eschricht, 1849 accepted as Balaenoptera Lacépède, 1804 Genus Perqualus Gray, 1846 accepted as Megaptera Gray, 1846 Genus Phylasus Dumeril, 1806 accepted as Balaenoptera Lacépède, 1804 Genus Physalis Fleming, 1822 accepted as Balaenoptera Lacépède, 1804    » Species Physalis vulgaris Fleming, 1828 accepted as Balaenoptera physalus (Linnaeus, 1758) Genus Physalus Gray, 1821 accepted as Balaenoptera Lacépède, 1804    » Species Physalus antarcticus Hutton, 1874 accepted as Balaenoptera bonaerensis Burmeister, 1867 » Species Physalus antarcticus Gray, 1850 accepted as Balaenoptera physalus (Linnaeus, 1758) » Species Physalus australis Gray, 1850 accepted as Balaenoptera physalus (Linnaeus, 1758) » Species Physalus brasiliensis Gray, 1850 accepted as Balaenoptera physalus (Linnaeus, 1758) » Species Physalus cylindricus Lacépède, 1804 accepted as Physeter macrocephalus Linnaeus, 1758 » Species Physalus dugundii Heddle, 1856 accepted as Balaenoptera physalus (Linnaeus, 1758) » Species Physalus fasciatus Gray, 1850 accepted as Balaenoptera physalus (Linnaeus, 1758) » Species Physalus latirostris Flower, 1865 accepted as Balaenoptera musculus (Linnaeus, 1758) » Species Physalus patachonicus Burmeister, 1866 accepted as Balaenoptera physalus (Linnaeus, 1758) » Species Physalus sibbaldii Gray, 1847 accepted as Balaenoptera musculus (Linnaeus, 1758) » Species Physalus verus Billberg, 1828 accepted as Balaenoptera physalus (Linnaeus, 1758) Genus Poescopia Grau, 1864 accepted as Megaptera Gray, 1846    » Species Poescopia lalandii Gray, 1866 accepted as Megaptera novaeangliae (Borowski, 1781) Genus Pterobalaena Eschricht, 1849 accepted as Balaenoptera Lacépède, 1804    » Species Pterobalaena gigantea represented as Pterobalaena gigantea michrochira Barkos, 1862 (alternate representation)    » Subspecies Pterobalaena gigantea michrochira Barkos, 1862 accepted as Balaenoptera physalus (Linnaeus, 1758) » Species Pterobalaena alba Giglioli, 1874 accepted as Balaenoptera borealis Lesson, 1828 » Species Pterobalaena communis Van Beneden, 1857 accepted as Balaenoptera physalus (Linnaeus, 1758) » Species Pterobalaena gigas Reinhardt, 1857 accepted as Balaenoptera musculus (Linnaeus, 1758) » Species Pterobalaena grypus Munter, 1877 accepted as Balaenoptera musculus (Linnaeus, 1758) » Species Pterobalaena minor Eschricht, 1849 accepted as Balaenoptera acutorostrata Lacépède, 1804    » Subspecies Pterobalaena minor bergensis Eschricht, 1849 accepted as Balaenoptera acutorostrata Lacépède, 1804 » Subspecies Pterobalaena minor groenlandica Eschricht, 1849 accepted as Balaenoptera acutorostrata Lacépède, 1804 » Species Pterobalaena nana Barkow, 1862 accepted as Balaenoptera acutorostrata Lacépède, 1804    » Subspecies Pterobalaena nana pentadactyla Barkow, 1862 accepted as Balaenoptera acutorostrata Lacépède, 1804 » Subspecies Pterobalaena nana tetradactyla Barkow, 1862 accepted as Balaenoptera acutorostrata Lacépède, 1804 » Species Pterobalaena pentadactyla Flower, 1865 accepted as Balaenoptera acutorostrata Lacépède, 1804 » Species Pterobalaena schlegeli Tomilin, 1957 accepted as Balaenoptera borealis Lesson, 1828    » Subspecies Pterobalaena schlegeli alba Tomilin, 1957 accepted as Balaenoptera borealis Lesson, 1828 Genus Ptychocetus Gloger, 1842 accepted as Balaenoptera Lacépède, 1804 Genus Rorqualus F. Cuvier, 1836 accepted as Balaenoptera Lacépède, 1804    » Species Rorqualus antarcticus F. Cuvier, 1836 accepted as Megaptera novaeangliae (Borowski, 1781) » Species Rorqualus australis Hamilton, 1837 accepted as Megaptera novaeangliae (Borowski, 1781) » Species Rorqualus boops F. Cuvier, 1836 accepted as Balaenoptera musculus (Linnaeus, 1758) » Species Rorqualus borealis Hamilton, 1837 accepted as Balaenoptera musculus (Linnaeus, 1758) » Species Rorqualus major Knox, 1870 accepted as Balaenoptera musculus (Linnaeus, 1758) » Species Rorqualus minor Hamilton, 1837 accepted as Balaenoptera acutorostrata Lacépède, 1804 » Species Rorqualus musculus F. Cuvier, 1836 accepted as Balaenoptera physalus (Linnaeus, 1758) Genus Rudolphius Gray, 1866 accepted as Balaenoptera Lacépède, 1804 Genus Sibbaldius Flower, 1865 accepted as Balaenoptera Lacépède, 1804    » Species Sibbaldius antarcticus Burmeister, 1866 accepted as Balaenoptera musculus (Linnaeus, 1758) » Species Sibbaldius borealis Gray, 1864 accepted as Balaenoptera musculus (Linnaeus, 1758) » Species Sibbaldius mondinii Capellini, 1877 accepted as Balaenoptera acutorostrata Lacépède, 1804 » Species Sibbaldius musculus Kellogg, 1929 accepted as Balaenoptera musculus (Linnaeus, 1758) » Species Sibbaldius schlegelii Gray, 1864 accepted as Balaenoptera borealis Lesson, 1828 » Species Sibbaldius tectirostris Cope, 1869 accepted as Balaenoptera physalus (Linnaeus, 1758) » Species Sibbaldius tuberosus Cope, 1869 accepted as Balaenoptera physalus (Linnaeus, 1758) Genus Sibbaldus Gray, 1864 accepted as Balaenoptera Lacépède, 1804 Genus Stenobalaena Gray, 1874 accepted as Balaenoptera Lacépède, 1804 Genus Swinhoia Gray, 1866 accepted as Balaenoptera Lacépède, 1804    » Species Swinhoia chinensis Gray, 1868 accepted as Balaenoptera physalus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Environment		marine
Links		To GenBank To ITIS
Note		Description: This family contains the larges animals ever to live; all balaenopteroids have adult body lengths of over 7 m, but some are much larger. The rorquals are streamlined animals (the humpback whale somewhat less than the others), with a series of long pleats extending from the snout tip to as far back as the navel on the ventral surface. Balaenopterids are fast and active lunge feeders; their morphology allows them to open their jaws very widely and distend their throats to take in huge mouthfuls of water during feeding. The baleen plates are of moderate length and fringe fineness. Density and fringe diameter vary among species, and along with plate number and width to length ratio, are diagnostic characters. Rorquals have dorsal fins (varying in size and shape) set beyond the midpoint of the back. The upper jaw has a relatively flat profile, a feature reflecting the structure of the skull. Within a given feature, differences among balaenopterids are often subtle variations on a theme, rather than class distinctions. Therefore, information on many features may be needed to distringuiish among them and reliance on a single character for identification is discouraged. <123> [details]
LSID		urn:lsid:marinespecies.org:taxname:136979
Taxonomic Edit history		Date    action    by 2004-12-21 15:54:05Z   created   van der Land, Jacob 2005-03-29 08:12:19Z   changed   Claus, Simon 2008-08-20 11:25:36Z   checked   Perrin, William 2009-03-09 09:18:36Z   changed   Perrin, William
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		Citation: Perrin, W. (2013). Balaenopteridae Gray, 1864. In: Perrin, W.F. (2013) World Cetacea Database. Accessed through: Perrin, W.F. (2013) World Cetacea Database at http://www.marinespecies.org/cetacea/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=136979 on 2013-06-19