Posted on 02/03/2021 9:41:00 AM PST by Red Badger
New paper describes species of baleen whale in the Gulf of Mexico - Rice's whale
For many decades Rice's whale was thought to be a subspecies of Bryde's whale
Analysis finally confirms its identity - but its endangered status has not changed
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A species of baleen whale that is native to the Gulf of Mexico, called Rice's whale, is already threatened by extinction – even though it's only just been properly identified.
US experts unravelled 'a complex species puzzle' with an analysis of a Rice's whale skull, which revealed key morphological differences compared with other baleen whale species.
Rice's whale, which makes its home solely in the Gulf of Mexico, was once considered a subspecies of Bryde's whale – and was known as 'Gulf of Mexico Bryde's Whale'.
Although it is now accepted as a distinct species and rechristened Rice's whale, scientists warn there are fewer than 100 of the creatures left in its native waters.
Significant threats facing Rice's whale are oil spills, vessel strikes, ocean debris and entanglement in fishing gear.
Rice's whale also has a very small population size and limited distribution, which increases the species' vulnerability to such threats.
When it was known as Gulf of Mexico Bryde's whale, the species was listed as endangered – but with this new name it retains its protected status under the Endangered Species Act.
It is also protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
To date, there are fewer than 100 Rice whales remaining, making them critically endangered.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
We had better kill them all and fast, otherwise they will become a protected species, all the nonsense that involves.
But you can’t protect what doesn’t exist.
At first I misread the title. I thought it said “new species of sperm male discovered”
Seems the left has alreaded discovered in excess of 80 genders.
“Look at that! Never seen one of those before! This is a first! And by the way there are only 100 of them in the entire world!!!!!”
WTH? Have they been hidin’ with buyduhn?
Can a species really be "endangered" if its current population may be the highest it has ever been?
Would the ecosystem even notice if these 100 whales disappeared?
Let’s call it The Joy Behar!
Newly discovered, which means there aren’t very many, ever. But somehow they know they are going extinct?
I wish I had this kind of know-how!
I wouldn’t want to insult.................................the whales................
I believe the rate of discovery of new specie and re-discovery once species once thought extinct is faster than the rate of extinction. We had a spurt of extinctions upon the introduction of cats and other invaders into long-isolated islands. But, that was a one-time event. The rate of extinctions has now long returned to its very long term trend.
The facts emanated by modern scientists are downright amazing, aren't they?
True.
Well, if I didn’t know about them, I wouldn’t miss them.
It is not a new species of whale, it has just been reclassified.
Discover a ‘new’ species... then immediately put it on the endangered list.
Got it.
I remember the scare ads that were on late-night TV back in the 90s about how the "deforestation of the Rain Forest" was wiping out 15,000 species of plant and animal life every year. Or maybe it was every month.
+1
5.56mmm
...and, put a ban on offshore drilling. I think I see where this is headed.
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