Balaenoptera physalus (fin whale) - IFAW-09-121-Bp

Abstract

Balaenoptera physalus (fin whale) - IFAW-09-121-Bp - female - 15.50 m - Pelvic location - New York State Museum. The carcass of a 50.7-foot (1546 cm), sub-adult male was reported floating off Provincetown in the morning and washed ashore on Herring Cove Beach, Cape Cod National Seashore, Provincetown, Barnstable Co., MA later in the day. The necropsy and salvage of the skeleton were done on 23 May and took about 6 hours. The entire skeleton was salvaged, but both sets of ear bones went to Darlene Keton at WHOI and the hyoid bones went with the trachea. The left first rib apparently was not retrieved. One chevron was damaged during cleaning by a dog or coyote. Both pelvic bones were saved. There were fresh mesh net impressions on the skin suggesting that this animal drowned in a pair trawl. There was also an infected cut on the left tail fluke that appeared to have been from a propeller. Both racks of baleen were saved in one piece. The skeleton was given to the New York State Museum, Albany, NY.