What is Balaenoptera?

Information about Balaenoptera

Balaenoptera
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Fin whale

Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Mammalia
Order:Cetacea
Suborder:Mysticeti
Family:Balaenopteridae
Subfamily:Balaenopterinae
Genus:Balaenoptera
Species
See text
Balaenoptera is the largest genus of the Rorqual whales, containing eight species, including the recently discovered Balaenoptera omurai in 2003. The only rorqual whale which is currently not classified as a member of the genus Balaenoptera is the Humpback Whale, Megaptera novaeangliae.

Taxonomy

B. physalus

Binomial name
Balaenoptera physalus
(Linnaeus, 1758)

Fin Whale range


The Fin Whale (Balaenoptera physalus), also called the
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Scientific classification or biological classification is a method by which biologists group and categorize species of organisms. Scientific classification also can be called scientific taxonomy, but should be distinguished from folk taxonomy, which lacks scientific basis.
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Chordata
Bateson, 1885

Typical Classes

See below

Chordates (phylum Chordata) are a group of animals that includes the vertebrates, together with several closely related invertebrates.
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Mammalia
Linnaeus, 1758

Subclasses & Infraclasses
  • Subclass †Allotheria*
  • Subclass Prototheria
  • Subclass Theria

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Cetacea
Brisson, 1762

Diversity
Around 88 species; see list of cetaceans or below.

Suborders

Mysticeti
Odontoceti
Archaeoceti (extinct)
(see text for families)

The order Cetacea
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Mysticeti
Cope, 1891

Diversity
Around 15 species; see list of cetaceans or below.

Families

Balaenidae
Balaenopteridae
Eschrichtiidae
Neobalaenidae
The baleen whales, also called whalebone whales or great whales
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Balaenopteridae
Gray, 1864

Genera

Balaenoptera
Megaptera

Rorquals are the largest group of baleen whales, with nine species in two genera.
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Balaenopteridae
Gray, 1864

Genera

Balaenoptera
Megaptera

Rorquals are the largest group of baleen whales, with nine species in two genera.
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species is one of the basic units of biological classification. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring.
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Balaenopteridae
Gray, 1864

Genera

Balaenoptera
Megaptera

Rorquals are the largest group of baleen whales, with nine species in two genera.
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species is one of the basic units of biological classification. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring.
..... Read more.
B. omurai

Binomial name
Balaenoptera omurai
Wada et al., 2003

Balaenoptera omurai is a species of whale about which almost nothing is known. It lacks a common name.
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Megaptera
Gray, 1846

Species: M. novaeangliae

Binomial name
Megaptera novaeangliae
Borowski, 1781


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B. physalus

Binomial name
Balaenoptera physalus
(Linnaeus, 1758)

Fin Whale range


The Fin Whale (Balaenoptera physalus), also called the
..... Read more.

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B. brydei
B. edeni

Binomial name
Balaenoptera brydei
Olsen, 1913

Balaenoptera edeni
Anderson, 1879

Bryde's Whale range

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B. brydei
B. edeni

Binomial name
Balaenoptera brydei
Olsen, 1913

Balaenoptera edeni
Anderson, 1879

Bryde's Whale range

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B. omurai

Binomial name
Balaenoptera omurai
Wada et al., 2003

Balaenoptera omurai is a species of whale about which almost nothing is known. It lacks a common name.
..... Read more.