Noise generated by the jaw actions of feeding fin whales

1993 ◽  
Vol 71 (12) ◽  
pp. 2546-2550 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul F. Brodie
Keyword(s):  
The Body ◽  
Synovial Joint ◽  
Body Movements ◽  
Animal Kingdom ◽  
Balaenoptera Physalus ◽  
Baleen Whales ◽  
Fin Whale ◽  
Filter Feeders ◽  
Fin Whales

The fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) is representative of baleen whales, which feed by engulfing up to 70 t of seawater in an elastic throat pouch, prior to filtering. This represents (i) the greatest biomechanical action in the animal kingdom, and (ii) a deviation from the flowthrough design of fishing trawls, most filter-feeders, and sampling devices. Based upon observations of fresh carcasses, it is proposed that during the brief period at full gape agile prey may be startled and retained within the pouch by noise: a synovial joint-crack generated during realignment of the tips of the mandibles. It is argued that the previous detection of nonvocal sounds, attributed to the body movements of feeding fin whales, may also include noise resulting from this action.

scholarly journals Crassicauda boopis in a fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) ship-struck in the eastern North Atlantic Ocean

2017 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
LAETITIA LEMPEREUR ◽  
MORGAN DELOBELLE ◽  
MARJAN DOOM ◽  
JAN HAELTERS ◽  
ETIENNE LEVY ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
North Atlantic ◽  
18S Rrna ◽  
North Atlantic Ocean ◽  
18S Rrna Gene ◽  
The Body ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Balaenoptera Physalus ◽  
Fin Whale ◽  
Eastern North Atlantic ◽  
The Right

SUMMARY On 9 November 2015, a juvenile male fin whale of 11·60 m length was observed on the bulb of a merchant vessel in the Channel Terneuzen – Ghent (The Netherlands – Belgium). A severe parasitosis was present in the right heart ventricle and caudal caval vein. Parasites were identified as Crassicauda boopis based on macroscopic and microscopic observations. The sequence of the 18S rRNA gene obtained from the parasite samples was 100% similar to the sequence of the 18S rRNA gene from Crassicauda magna available on GenBank. While adults of C. boopis and C. magna are morphologically distinct and found at different locations in the body, the molecular analysis of the 18S rRNA gene seems insufficient for reliable species identification. Although numerous C. boopis were found, the cause of death was identified as due to the collision with the ship, as suggested by the presence of a large haematoma, and the absence of evidence of renal failure. The young age of this whale and the absence of severe chronic reaction may suggest that the infestation was not yet at an advanced chronic stage.

The Propulsive Powers of Blue and Fin Whales

1948 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 237-240 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. A. KERMACK
Keyword(s):  
The Body ◽  
The Other ◽  
Fin Whale ◽  
Mammalian Muscle ◽  
Fin Whales ◽  
Horse Power

1. If the flow of water over the body of a Blue or a Fin whale be free from turbulence, the horse-power required per lb. of locomotory muscle is of the order of a tenth of the value estimated by Gray (1936) for the porpoise and dolphin. 2. If the flow be turbulent in these large whales the horse-power required per lb. of muscle agrees closely with Gray's estimate for the smaller Cetacea, or for the other types of mammalian muscle that have been investigated.

Revision of fin whale Balaenoptera physalus (Linnaeus, 1758) subspecies using genetics

2019 ◽  
Vol 100 (5) ◽  
pp. 1653-1670 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frederick I Archer ◽  
Robert L Brownell ◽  
Brittany L Hancock-Hanser ◽  
Phillip A Morin ◽  
Kelly M Robertson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
North Atlantic ◽  
North Pacific ◽  
Recent Analysis ◽  
Snp Analysis ◽  
Balaenoptera Physalus ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Fin Whale ◽  
The North ◽  
Fin Whales ◽  
The North Pacific

Abstract Three subspecies of fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) are currently recognized, including the northern fin whale (B. p. physalus), the southern fin whale (B. p. quoyi), and the pygmy fin whale (B. p. patachonica). The Northern Hemisphere subspecies encompasses fin whales in both the North Atlantic and North Pacific oceans. A recent analysis of 154 mitogenome sequences of fin whales from these two ocean basins and the Southern Hemisphere suggested that the North Pacific and North Atlantic populations should be treated as different subspecies. Using these mitogenome sequences, in this study, we conduct analyses on a larger mtDNA control region data set, and on 23 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from 144 of the 154 samples in the mitogenome data set. Our results reveal that North Pacific and North Atlantic fin whales can be correctly assigned to their ocean basin with 99% accuracy. Results of the SNP analysis indicate a correct classification rate of 95%, very low rates of gene flow among ocean basins, and that distinct mitogenome matrilines in the North Pacific are interbreeding. These results indicate that North Pacific fin whales should be recognized as a separate subspecies, with the name B. p. velifera Cope in Scammon 1869 as the oldest available name.

Sex hormone concentrations in blood serum from the North Atlantic fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus)

1992 ◽  
Vol 134 (3) ◽  
pp. 405-413 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. M. Kjeld ◽  
J. Sigurjónsson ◽  
A. Árnason
Keyword(s):  
Blood Serum ◽  
Pregnancy Rate ◽  
Age Distribution ◽  
Balaenoptera Physalus ◽  
Serum Progesterone ◽  
Fin Whale ◽  
Pregnant Females ◽  
The North ◽  
Group I ◽  
Fin Whales

ABSTRACT Blood serum concentrations of testosterone and progesterone were measured in postmortem samples taken at sea from 814 fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) caught during the summers (June–September) of 1981–1989. The ages of 781 of these animals were also assessed. The testosterone concentrations in samples from 352 males averaged 2 nmol/l; 41 samples had concentrations of 0·1 nmol/l or lower and 34 of these came from whales aged between 2 and 14 years and showed a Gaussian type of age distribution with a peak number at 7 to 8 years. The mean testosterone concentrations in the males increased by more than fourfold between June and August. Serum progesterone concentrations of the 462 females fell into three separate groups: (1) group I with values ≤ 0·1 nmol/l; (2) group II with intermediate values of > 0·1 nmol/l but <10 nmol/l; (3) group III with values of ≥ 10 nmol/l. These three groups of females seemed to consist respectively of young sexually immature females, mature non-pregnant females and pregnant females. The age distribution in the groups indicated that puberty in females is attained chiefly between the ages of 7 and 10. The yearly pregnancy rate (that percentage of all females caught and studied in a year which had progesterone values ≥10 nmol/l) was between 35% and 55%, except in 1987 when it was 67%. The yearly pregnancy rate would range from 56% to 93% if only mature females (i.e. those with serum progesterone >0·1 nmol/l) were considered. Serum oestradiol concentrations in male and female fin whales had no relation to age, sex or pregnancy. Journal of Endocrinology (1992) 134, 405–413

scholarly journals Skull and buccal cavity allometry increase mass-specific engulfment capacity in fin whales

2009 ◽  
Vol 277 (1683) ◽  
pp. 861-868 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeremy A. Goldbogen ◽  
Jean Potvin ◽  
Robert E. Shadwick
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Foraging Ecology ◽  
The Body ◽  
Foraging Efficiency ◽  
Energetic Cost ◽  
Tail Region ◽  
Fin Whale ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Fin Whales ◽  
Lunge Feeding

Rorqual whales (Balaenopteridae) represent not only some of the largest animals of all time, but also exhibit a wide range in intraspecific and interspecific body size. Balaenopterids are characterized by their extreme lunge-feeding behaviour, a dynamic process that involves the engulfment of a large volume of prey-laden water at a high energetic cost. To investigate the consequences of scale and morphology on lunge-feeding performance, we determined allometric equations for fin whale body dimensions and engulfment capacity. Our analysis demonstrates that larger fin whales have larger skulls and larger buccal cavities relative to body size. Together, these data suggest that engulfment volume is also allometric, increasing with body length as . The positive allometry of the skull is accompanied by negative allometry in the tail region. The relative shortening of the tail may represent a trade-off for investing all growth-related resources in the anterior region of the body. Although enhanced engulfment volume will increase foraging efficiency, the work (energy) required to accelerate the engulfed water mass during engulfment will be relatively higher in larger rorquals. If the mass-specific energetic cost of a lunge increases with body size, it will have major consequences for rorqual foraging ecology and evolution.

Are baleen whales exposed to the threat of microplastics? A case study of the Mediterranean fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus)

2012 ◽  
Vol 64 (11) ◽  
pp. 2374-2379 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Cristina Fossi ◽  
Cristina Panti ◽  
Cristiana Guerranti ◽  
Daniele Coppola ◽  
Matteo Giannetti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Balaenoptera Physalus ◽  
Baleen Whales ◽  
Fin Whale ◽  
The Mediterranean

On the occurrence of the fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) in the northern Adriatic

2004 ◽  
Vol 84 (4) ◽  
pp. 861-862 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lovrenc Lipej ◽  
Jakov Dulčić ◽  
Boris Kryštufek
Keyword(s):  
Humpback Whale ◽  
Eastern Coast ◽  
Zooplankton Abundance ◽  
Balaenoptera Physalus ◽  
Northern Adriatic ◽  
Fin Whale ◽  
Fin Whales ◽  
Basking Shark

Twenty-three observations of 26 fin whales Balaenoptera physalus are documented for the northern Adriatic. Records were more common along the eastern coast and have increased over the last decades. The latter coincides with the increased presence of other planktivorous vertebrates (humpback whale, basking shark) and possibly follow changes in the zooplankton abundance.

scholarly journals Fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) mitogenomics: A cautionary tale of defining sub-species from mitochondrial sequence monophyly

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea A. Cabrera ◽  
Jeroen P. A. Hoekendijk ◽  
Alex Aguilar ◽  
Susan G. Barco ◽  
Simon Berrow ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mitochondrial Genome ◽  
Genetic Drift ◽  
North Atlantic ◽  
Dna Sequences ◽  
Common Ancestor ◽  
Complete Mitochondrial Genome ◽  
Recent Common Ancestor ◽  
Balaenoptera Physalus ◽  
Fin Whale ◽  
Fin Whales

HighlightsMitochondrial monophyly is commonly employed to define evolutionary significant units.Monophyly may be caused by insufficient sampling or a recent common ancestor.Mitogenomic studies are generally based on few samples and prone to sampling issues.Expanded mitogenome sampling negates previous monophyly in fin whales.AbstractThe advent of massive parallel sequencing technologies has resulted in an increase of studies based upon complete mitochondrial genome DNA sequences that revisit the taxonomic status within and among species. Spatially distinct monophyly in mitogenomic genealogies, i.e., the sharing of a recent common ancestor among con-specific samples collected in the same region has been viewed as evidence for subspecies. Several recent studies in cetaceans have employed this criterion to suggest subsequent intraspecific taxonomic revisions. We reason that employing intra-specific, spatially distinct monophyly at non-recombining, clonally inherited genomes is an unsatisfactory criterion for defining subspecies based upon theoretical (genetic drift) and practical (sampling effort) arguments. This point is illustrated by a re-analysis of a global mitogenomic assessment of fin whales, Balaenoptera physalus spp., published by Archer et al. (2013) which proposed to further subdivide the Northern Hemisphere fin whale subspecies, B. p. physalus. The proposed revision was based upon the detection of spatially distinct monophyly among North Atlantic and North Pacific fin whales in a genealogy based upon complete mitochondrial genome DNA sequences. The extended analysis conducted in this study (1,676 mitochondrial control region, 162 complete mitochondrial genome DNA sequences and 20 microsatellite loci genotyped in 358 samples) revealed that the apparent monophyly among North Atlantic fin whales reported by Archer et al. (2013) to be due to low sample sizes. In conclusion, defining sub-species from monophyly (i.e., the absence of para-or polyphyly) can lead to erroneous conclusions due to relatively “trivial” aspects, such as sampling. Basic population genetic processes (i.e., genetic drift and migration) also affect the time to most recent common ancestor and hence the probability that individuals in a sample are monophyletic.

scholarly journals Morphological variation of the relictual alveolar structures in the mandibles of baleen whales

PeerJ ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. e11890
Author(s):  
Carlos Mauricio Peredo ◽  
Nicholas D. Pyenson
Keyword(s):  
Morphological Variation ◽  
Potential Role ◽  
In Utero ◽  
The Body ◽  
Baleen Whales ◽  
Histological Studies ◽  
Feeding Process ◽  
Filter Feeders ◽  
Taxonomic Groups ◽  
Tooth Buds

Living baleen whales (mysticetes) are bulk filter feeders that use keratinous baleen plates to filter food from prey laden water. Extant mysticetes are born entirely edentulous, though they possess tooth buds early in ontogeny, a trait inherited from toothed ancestors. The mandibles of extant baleen whales have neither teeth nor baleen; teeth are resorbed in utero and baleen grows only on the palate. The mandibles of extant baleen whales also preserve a series of foramina and associated sulci that collectively form an elongated trough, called the alveolar groove. Despite this name, it remains unclear if the alveolar groove of edentulous mysticetes and the dental structures of toothed mammals are homologous. Here, we describe and quantify the anatomical diversity of these structures across extant mysticetes and compare their variable morphologies across living taxonomic groups (i.e., Balaenidae, Neobalaenidae, Eschrichtiidae, and Balaenopteridae). Although we found broad variability across taxonomic groups for the alveolar groove length, occupying approximately 60–80 percent of the mandible’s total curvilinear length (CLL) across all taxa, the relictual alveolar foramen showed distinct patterns, ranging between 15–25% CLL in balaenids, while ranging between 3–12% CLL in balaenopterids. This variability and the morphological patterning along the body of the mandible is consistent with the hypothesis that the foramina underlying the alveolar groove reflect relictual alveoli. These findings also lay the groundwork for future histological studies to examine the contents of these foramina and clarify their potential role in the feeding process.

Engulfing mechanics of fin whales

1987 ◽  
Vol 65 (12) ◽  
pp. 2898-2907 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa Schichtel Orton ◽  
Paul F. Brodie
Keyword(s):  
Buccal Cavity ◽  
The Body ◽  
Circumferential Direction ◽  
Balaenoptera Physalus ◽  
Feeding Mechanism ◽  
Fin Whales

The grooved throat wall of fin whales, Balaenoptera physalus, extends tremendously during feeding causing the whale to expand its profile from a cigar shape to the shape of an elongated, bloated tadpole. Ventral groove blubber associated with the engulfing feeding mechanism can be extended reversibly to as much as 4 times its resting length in the circumferential direction, and to 1.5 times its resting length along the long axis of the body. The muscle in the throat wall can be reversibly extended up to 3 times its resting length. Both these tissues have large amounts of the protein elastin in their microstructures that may function in retracting the expanded buccal cavity. Calculations of forces contributing to the expansion of the buccal cavity show that the engulfing process in feeding can be powered solely by the speed of swimming.

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