10 animals on the edge of extinction you didn't know about no.5

10 animals on the edge of extinction you didn't know about no.5 - rice's whale

Welcome back to Green World

Today we're exploring the Mexican gulf and a rather unknown whale species called the rice's whale (Balaenoptera ricei). The name doesn't have anything to do with cooking rice, instead, it's been named after Dale W. Rice, a cetologist.

Rice's whales are found in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico. They were originally considered to be Bryde's whales, due to their almost identical appearance until genetic analysis in 2021 determined that they are their own species. They are still often known as Gulf of Mexico Bryde's whales. In April 2019 they were listed as endangered by the NMFS under that name before it was officially changed in August 2021.

They live in waters about 100-500m deep off the coast of Florida and although their diet is unknown, suspected food contains lanternfish and hatchet fish. They do not migrate and remain in the same waters all year round. Due to being such a recently confirmed species, not much else is known. A washed-up calf was about 4.6 meters in length. Adults have been measured up to 12 meters in length and the maximum weight recorded was 27 tons. Their whale song differs from that of Bryde's whales.

Oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico

Rice's whales are classified as critically endangered by the IUCN and are one of the most endangered cetaceans globally. While the population size is unsure, our best guess lies between 33 and 50 individuals. This number is declining rapidly. They are protected by the United States Endangered Species Act, but this may not be enough. An oil spill in 2010 killed nearly 20% of all individuals, showing they are incredibly vulnerable to local catastrophes. Other threats are industrialisation, pollution, traffic and ship collisions.

If we don't act soon, the known lifespan of this fascinating creature may have been ever so short!

Your Green World Team💚

Sources:

https://www.mmc.gov/priority-topics/species-of-concern/rices-whale/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rice%27s_whale

This image, owned by NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (on flickr.com) is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

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