Balaenoptera

Balaenoptera () is the largest genus of the rorquals, containing eight extant species, including the recently discovered Balaenoptera omurai in 2003. The only two rorquals which are currently not classified as members of the genus Balaenoptera are the humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) and the gray whale (Eschritius robustus).

 Species 

 Extant species 

 Common minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata)
 North Atlantic minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata acutorostrata)
 North Pacific minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata scammoni)
 Antarctic minke whale (Balaenoptera bonaerensis)
 Sei whale (Balaenoptera borealis)
 Northern sei whale (Balaenoptera borealis borealis)
 Southern sei whale (Balaenoptera borealis schlegelii)
 Bryde's whale (Balaenoptera edeni)
 Offshore Bryde's whale (Balaenoptera brydei or Balaenoptera edeni brydei) (taxonomy disputed)
 Eden's whale (Balaenoptera edeni edeni)
 Blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) — the largest animal in the world that has ever existed
 Northern blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus musculus)
 Antarctic blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus intermedia)
 Northern Indian Ocean blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus indica)
 Pygmy blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus brevicauda)
 Omura's whale (Balaenoptera omurai)
 Fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus)
 Pygmy fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus patachonica)
 North Atlantic fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus physalus)
 Southern fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus quoyi)
 North Pacific fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus velifera)
 Rice's whale (Balaenoptera ricei)


 Fossil species 

 †Balaenoptera bertae
 †Balaenoptera cephalus
 †Balaenoptera colcloughi
 †"Balaenoptera" cortesii
 †Balaenoptera davidsonii
 †"Balaenoptera" portisi
 †"Balaenoptera" ryani
 †Balaenoptera siberi
 †Balaenoptera sursiplana
 †Balaenoptera taiwanica 

 Gallery 

 References 
category:Baleen whales


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