PeRMS taxon details
Balaenoptera physalus (Linnaeus, 1758)
137091 (urn:lsid:marinespecies.org:taxname:137091)
accepted
Species
marine, terrestrial
(of ) Linnaeus, C. (1758). Systema Naturae per regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. [The system of nature through the three kingdoms of nature, according to classes, orders, genera, species, with characters, differences, synonyms, places.]. <em>Impensis Direct. Laurentii Salvii. Holmiae [Stockholm].</em> 1(10) [iii], 824 p., available online at https://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/726886
page(s): 75 [details] Available for editors
page(s): 75 [details] Available for editors
Note "Oceano Europaeo," specifically the...
From editor or global species database
Type locality "Oceano Europaeo," specifically the Spitzbergen Sea [details]
Distribution in all oceans
Distribution Antarctica/Southern Ocean; East Pacific; Eastern Atlantic Ocean; Indo-West Pacific; Western Atlantic Ocean
Distribution in all oceans [details]
Distribution Antarctica/Southern Ocean; East Pacific; Eastern Atlantic Ocean; Indo-West Pacific; Western Atlantic Ocean
Distribution Antarctica/Southern Ocean; East Pacific; Eastern Atlantic Ocean; Indo-West Pacific; Western Atlantic Ocean [details]
Fordyce, E.; Perrin, W.F. (2025). World Cetacea Database. Balaenoptera physalus (Linnaeus, 1758). Accessed through: Santamaría, J.; Romero, C.; Meza, M. (Eds) (2025) Peruvian Register of Marine Species at: https://www.marinespecies.org/Perms/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=137091 on 2025-05-09
Santamaría, J.; Romero, C.; Meza, M. (Eds) (2025). Peruvian Register of Marine Species. Balaenoptera physalus (Linnaeus, 1758). Accessed at: https://www.marinespecies.org/perms/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=137091 on 2025-05-09
Date
action
by
original description
(of ) Linnaeus, C. (1758). Systema Naturae per regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. [The system of nature through the three kingdoms of nature, according to classes, orders, genera, species, with characters, differences, synonyms, places.]. <em>Impensis Direct. Laurentii Salvii. Holmiae [Stockholm].</em> 1(10) [iii], 824 p., available online at https://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/726886
page(s): 75 [details] Available for editors
context source (PeRMS) Reyes, J. (2009). Ballenas, delfines y otros cetáceos del Perú. Una fuente de información. <em>Lima- Perú. Squema-Ediciones.</em> 160 pp. [details]
basis of record van der Land, J. (2001). Tetrapoda, <B><I>in</I></B>: Costello, M.J. <i>et al.</i> (Ed.) (2001). <i>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,</i> 50: pp. 375-376 (look up in IMIS) [details]
additional source Carwardine, M., E. Hoyt, R. E. Fordyce and P. Gill. 1998. Whales, dolphins and porpoises. Time-Life Books. Nature Company Guides, USA. 288 p. [details]
additional source Thomas, M. L. H. (1983). Marine and coastal systems of the Quoddy Region, New Brunswick. <em>Canadian Special Publication of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences.</em> 64:1-306. [details] Available for editors
additional source Muller, Y. (2004). Faune et flore du littoral du Nord, du Pas-de-Calais et de la Belgique: inventaire. [Coastal fauna and flora of the Nord, Pas-de-Calais and Belgium: inventory]. <em>Commission Régionale de Biologie Région Nord Pas-de-Calais: France.</em> 307 pp., available online at http://www.vliz.be/imisdocs/publications/145561.pdf [details]
additional source Mead, J. G.; Brownell, R. L. Jr. (2005). Cetacea. <em>In Wilson, D.E. & D.M. Reeder (eds). Mammal Species of the World. A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed), Johns Hopkins University Press, 2,142 pp.</em> 723--743., available online at http://www.bucknell.edu/msw3/ [details]
additional source Rice, D. W. (1998). Marine mammals of the world. Systematics and distribution. <em>Society for Marine Mammalogy Special Publication.</em> 4., available online at http://www.marinemammalscience.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/MarineMammalsOfTheWorld.pdf [details]
additional source Hershkovitz, P. (1966). Catalog of Living Whales. <em>Bulletin of the United States National Museum.</em> (246): 1-259., available online at https://doi.org/10.5479/si.03629236.246 [details]
additional source Jefferson, T. A., M. A. Webber and R. L. Pitman. (2008). Marine mammals of the world. Academic Press, Amsterdam. [details]
additional source IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, available online at http://www.iucnredlist.org [details]
additional source Perrin, W.F.; Würsig, B.; Thewissen, J.G.M. (2009). Encyclopedia of marine mammals. Second edition. Academic Press: London. ISBN 978-0-12-373553-9. xxix, 1316 pp. (look up in IMIS) [details]
additional source King, C.M.; Roberts, C.D.; Bell, B.D.; Fordyce, R.E.; Nicoll, R.S.; Worthy, T.H.; Paulin, C.D.; Hitchmough, R.A.; Keyes, I.W.; Baker, A.N.; Stewart, A.L.; Hiller, N.; McDowall, R.M.; Holdaway, R.N.; McPhee, R.P.; Schwarzhans, W.W.; Tennyson, A.J.D.; Rust, S.; Macadie, I. (2009). Phylum Chordata: lancelets, fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals. <em>in: Gordon, D.P. (Ed.) (2009). New Zealand inventory of biodiversity: 1. Kingdom Animalia: Radiata, Lophotrochozoa, Deuterostomia.</em> pp. 431-554. [details]
additional source Schmidly, D. J. and B. Würsig. 2009. Mammals (Vertebrata: Mammalia) of the Gulf of Mexico, Pp. 1343–1352 in Felder, D.L. and D.K. Camp (eds.), Gulf of Mexico–Origins, Waters, and Biota. Biodiversity. Texas A&M Press, College Station, Texas. [details]
additional source Liu, J.Y. [Ruiyu] (ed.). (2008). Checklist of marine biota of China seas. <em>China Science Press.</em> 1267 pp. (look up in IMIS) [details] Available for editors
additional source Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS). , available online at http://www.itis.gov [details]
ecology source Looby, A.; Erbe, C.; Bravo, S.; Cox, K.; Davies, H. L.; Di Iorio, L.; Jézéquel, Y.; Juanes, F.; Martin, C. W.; Mooney, T. A.; Radford, C.; Reynolds, L. K.; Rice, A. N.; Riera, A.; Rountree, R.; Spriel, B.; Stanley, J.; Vela, S.; Parsons, M. J. G. (2023). Global inventory of species categorized by known underwater sonifery. <em>Scientific Data.</em> 10(1). (look up in IMIS), available online at https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-023-02745-4 [details]
page(s): 75 [details] Available for editors
context source (PeRMS) Reyes, J. (2009). Ballenas, delfines y otros cetáceos del Perú. Una fuente de información. <em>Lima- Perú. Squema-Ediciones.</em> 160 pp. [details]
basis of record van der Land, J. (2001). Tetrapoda, <B><I>in</I></B>: Costello, M.J. <i>et al.</i> (Ed.) (2001). <i>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,</i> 50: pp. 375-376 (look up in IMIS) [details]
additional source Carwardine, M., E. Hoyt, R. E. Fordyce and P. Gill. 1998. Whales, dolphins and porpoises. Time-Life Books. Nature Company Guides, USA. 288 p. [details]
additional source Thomas, M. L. H. (1983). Marine and coastal systems of the Quoddy Region, New Brunswick. <em>Canadian Special Publication of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences.</em> 64:1-306. [details] Available for editors
additional source Muller, Y. (2004). Faune et flore du littoral du Nord, du Pas-de-Calais et de la Belgique: inventaire. [Coastal fauna and flora of the Nord, Pas-de-Calais and Belgium: inventory]. <em>Commission Régionale de Biologie Région Nord Pas-de-Calais: France.</em> 307 pp., available online at http://www.vliz.be/imisdocs/publications/145561.pdf [details]
additional source Mead, J. G.; Brownell, R. L. Jr. (2005). Cetacea. <em>In Wilson, D.E. & D.M. Reeder (eds). Mammal Species of the World. A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed), Johns Hopkins University Press, 2,142 pp.</em> 723--743., available online at http://www.bucknell.edu/msw3/ [details]
additional source Rice, D. W. (1998). Marine mammals of the world. Systematics and distribution. <em>Society for Marine Mammalogy Special Publication.</em> 4., available online at http://www.marinemammalscience.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/MarineMammalsOfTheWorld.pdf [details]
additional source Hershkovitz, P. (1966). Catalog of Living Whales. <em>Bulletin of the United States National Museum.</em> (246): 1-259., available online at https://doi.org/10.5479/si.03629236.246 [details]
additional source Jefferson, T. A., M. A. Webber and R. L. Pitman. (2008). Marine mammals of the world. Academic Press, Amsterdam. [details]
additional source IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, available online at http://www.iucnredlist.org [details]
additional source Perrin, W.F.; Würsig, B.; Thewissen, J.G.M. (2009). Encyclopedia of marine mammals. Second edition. Academic Press: London. ISBN 978-0-12-373553-9. xxix, 1316 pp. (look up in IMIS) [details]
additional source King, C.M.; Roberts, C.D.; Bell, B.D.; Fordyce, R.E.; Nicoll, R.S.; Worthy, T.H.; Paulin, C.D.; Hitchmough, R.A.; Keyes, I.W.; Baker, A.N.; Stewart, A.L.; Hiller, N.; McDowall, R.M.; Holdaway, R.N.; McPhee, R.P.; Schwarzhans, W.W.; Tennyson, A.J.D.; Rust, S.; Macadie, I. (2009). Phylum Chordata: lancelets, fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals. <em>in: Gordon, D.P. (Ed.) (2009). New Zealand inventory of biodiversity: 1. Kingdom Animalia: Radiata, Lophotrochozoa, Deuterostomia.</em> pp. 431-554. [details]
additional source Schmidly, D. J. and B. Würsig. 2009. Mammals (Vertebrata: Mammalia) of the Gulf of Mexico, Pp. 1343–1352 in Felder, D.L. and D.K. Camp (eds.), Gulf of Mexico–Origins, Waters, and Biota. Biodiversity. Texas A&M Press, College Station, Texas. [details]
additional source Liu, J.Y. [Ruiyu] (ed.). (2008). Checklist of marine biota of China seas. <em>China Science Press.</em> 1267 pp. (look up in IMIS) [details] Available for editors
additional source Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS). , available online at http://www.itis.gov [details]
ecology source Looby, A.; Erbe, C.; Bravo, S.; Cox, K.; Davies, H. L.; Di Iorio, L.; Jézéquel, Y.; Juanes, F.; Martin, C. W.; Mooney, T. A.; Radford, C.; Reynolds, L. K.; Rice, A. N.; Riera, A.; Rountree, R.; Spriel, B.; Stanley, J.; Vela, S.; Parsons, M. J. G. (2023). Global inventory of species categorized by known underwater sonifery. <em>Scientific Data.</em> 10(1). (look up in IMIS), available online at https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-023-02745-4 [details]
Present Inaccurate Introduced: alien Containing type locality
From editor or global species database
Holotype None; based primarily on the "finfish" of Martens (1675) [details]IUCN Red List Category Endangered (EN) [details]
Morphology Distinguishing characteristics: white lower jaw on right, gray on left. Blow readily visible-10 m(33') tall, straight column. Curved dorsal fin closer to tail. light grey with white belly, occasional blotches of orange/yellow, blaze or chevron extending from eye across back. Fin and blue whales have the deepest, loudest voices in the ocean, letting them communicate over great distances. Second largest living animal after the blue whale. [details]
Predators Killer whale (Orcinus orca) [details]
Reproduction Calving: December to April in Northern Hemisphere, austral winter in Southern Hemisphere, in unknown localities; Weaning: 1 year [details]
Type locality "Oceano Europaeo," specifically the Spitzbergen Sea [details]
Unreviewed
Diet schooling fish, euphasiids and other invetebrates, copepods (when young), squid [details]Dimensions Length: male 58-82' (17.7-25 m), female 60-88 1/2' (18.3-27 m), at birth 19 1/2' + (5.9 m+) [details]
Distribution in all oceans [details]
Distribution Antarctica/Southern Ocean; East Pacific; Eastern Atlantic Ocean; Indo-West Pacific; Western Atlantic Ocean [details]
Habitat mostly offshore but also near the coast [details]
Importance In the North-West Atlantic region, it is the dominant large cetacean species in all seasons, with the largest standing stock, the largest food requirements, and therefore the largest impact on the ecosystem of any cetacean species. [details]
| Language | Name | |
|---|---|---|
| Afrikaans | vinwalvis | [details] |
| Aleut | mangidakhmangidadakh | [details] |
| Arabic | harcul chaii | [details] |
| Bulgarian | Финвалfinvаl | [details] |
| Catalan | rorqual comú | [details] |
| Chukot | niltkhokkein uiiutnilchoken biuu | [details] |
| Croatian | veliki kit | [details] |
| Czech | plejtvák myšok | [details] |
| Danish | Silde-Rorenfinhval | [details] |
| Dutch | vinvisgewone vinvis | [details] |
| English | razor backherring whalefinnerfinback whalefin whalecommon rorqualcommon finwhalecommon finback whalebig finner | [details] |
| French | vraie baleinerorqual communbaleine américaine | [details] |
| German | SchnabelwalFinnwalFinnfisch | [details] |
| Hebrew | לויתן מצוילווייתן מצויlivyatan matzui | [details] |
| Icelandic | sildrekisildreklangreydurhunfubaksfurehvalerfinnhvaler | [details] |
| Indonesian | paus sirip | [details] |
| Italian | rorqualororquallororqual comunebalenottera fisallobalenottera comune | [details] |
| Japanese | ナガスクジラnagasu kujira | [details] |
| Kalaallisut | tunnolikkeporkarnak | [details] |
| Korean | cham-gorae | [details] |
| Koryak | vapakylichan | [details] |
| Lithuanian | finvalas | [details] |
| Malagasy | trozona amam-bombo | [details] |
| Maltese | baliena mbacca | [details] |
| Modern Greek (1453-) | Πτεροφάλαιναpterofálaina | [details] |
| Norwegian | stor-hvalsildrörsildehvalrorenloddehvalfinqvalfinnhvalfinhvalfinefisk | [details] |
| Norwegian Bokmål | finnhval | [details] |
| Norwegian Nynorsk | finnkval | [details] |
| Polish | finwal | [details] |
| Portuguese | baleia-finabaleia-comum | [details] |
| Russian | финвалсельдяной китseldianoi polosatikobyknovennyi polosatiknastoiashchiy polosatikfinval | [details] |
| Sami languages | reider | [details] |
| Slovenian | brazdasti kit | [details] |
| Spanish | rorcual de aletarorcual comúnkilaballena fisalusballena finballena de aletaballena boba | [details] |
| Swedish | sillvalsillhvalrörvalfinnfisk | [details] |
| Turkish | uzun balinafin balinasıfin balinasi | [details] |
| Ukrainian | Фінвал | [details] |
| Welsh | morfil asgellog llwyd | [details] |
| Yupik languages | tykyshkok | [details] |
Marine Life Information Network - UK
To Barcode of Life (162 barcodes)
To Biodiversity Heritage Library (228 publications)
To Biological Information System for Marine Life (BISMaL)
To European Nucleotide Archive, ENA (Balaenoptera physalus)
To GenBank (76503 nucleotides; 21881 proteins)
To Global Biotic Interactions (GloBI)
To IUCN Red List (Vulnerable)
To NMNH Extant Collection (MMP USNM 301635 Balaenoptera physalus Damaged Ventral Skull)
To PESI
To ITIS
To Barcode of Life (162 barcodes)
To Biodiversity Heritage Library (228 publications)
To Biological Information System for Marine Life (BISMaL)
To European Nucleotide Archive, ENA (Balaenoptera physalus)
To GenBank (76503 nucleotides; 21881 proteins)
To Global Biotic Interactions (GloBI)
To IUCN Red List (Vulnerable)
To NMNH Extant Collection (MMP USNM 301635 Balaenoptera physalus Damaged Ventral Skull)
To PESI
To ITIS
