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| Distribution |
A recent paper by Rosel et al. (2021) describes a new whale species, a split of the Bryde's Whale (Balaenoptera edeni); the form or population essentially restricted to the Gulf of Mexico is now named as the Rice's Whale (B. ricei). However, the paper also shows that the several specimens known from the southern Atlantic Coast of the US, including the one NC stranding -- a specimen that washed ashore at Carolina Beach, New Hanover County, on 13 March 2003 -- have also been confirmed as Rice's Whales. A figure in the paper shows three or four offshore NC sightings of possible individuals of this species -- listed in the paper as "Bryde's", "Bryde's/Sei [B. borealis]", and "Balaenoptera sp.". Certainly, offshore observations (including photos) are highly unlikely to conclusively document Rice's Whales, especially in the Atlantic, but the authors show that true Bryde's Whales have been documented with stranding specimens only from the southern shores of the Caribbean Sea and farther southward; and thus the authors indicate that: 1) it is unlikely that true Bryde's Whales occur along and off the US Atlantic Coast, 2) Rice's Whale is the only breeding Balaenoptera whale species in the Gulf of Mexico, and 3) though Rice's Whale is probably not a breeding species in the Atlantic, individuals from the Gulf of Mexico population can and do stray around FL and northward into the warmer waters off the Southeastern states.
Occurs essentially only in the Gulf of Mexico, but strays have been documented along the southeastern Atlantic Coast of the US. |
| Abundance |
Though there is just a single definitive record for the state (in 2003), it likely is best considered as very rare well offshore, rather than accidental or casual. Of course, the three or four sightings offshore -- the fourth lies well off the NC/SC "state line" -- might well be Rice's Whales, but are impossible to pin down to species level. |
| Seasonal Occurrence |
Breeds in the Gulf of Mexico only, as far as known. NC lies at the northern edge of the range for dispersing individuals, and perhaps most likely to be expected in NC from spring to fall. |
| Habitat |
Offshore waters of the Gulf Stream or other warm waters south of Cape Hatteras. |
| Behavior |
Not well known, but limited essentially to the Gulf of Mexico, and thus is a species of warm waters all year round. |
| Comments |
For more information about this newly described species, see the article below. The reference is:
Rosel, P.E., L.A. Wilcox, T.K. Yamada, and K.D. Mullin. 2021. A new species of baleen whale (Balaenoptera) from the Gulf of Mexico, with a review of its geographic distribution. Marine Mammal Science 2021:1-34. |
| Origin |
Native |
| NC List |
Official |
 State Rank |
SAM |
| State Status |
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| Global Rank |
GNR |
| Federal Status |
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| subspecies |
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| other_comName |
Bryde's Whale (in part) |
| synonym |
Balaenoptera edeni -- Gulf of Mexico type |
