Silver whale: Difference between revisions
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The '''silver whale''' ({{em|'''Megaptera argenteus'''}}) is a species of baleen whale. It is a rorqual (a member of the family Balaenopteridae) and along with the humpback whale is one of the two species in the genus Megaptera. Adults range in length from 11–15 m (36–49 ft) and can weigh up to 35 metric tons. The silver whale is known for its pale coloration which derives from a naturally selected preference for albinism. The whale is commonly found off the eastern coast of [[Hesperida]], and populations have been sighted in the Albarine Sea, [[Promethean Sea]], and [[Tenebric Ocean]]. Silver whale populations migrate less than their peer species, as their pale coat leads them to favor relatively warmer waters even in the summertime. The silver whale is listed as vulnerable, as it has long been a target for poachers, although legislation to protect the species has been passed by many nations. Their distinctive coloration makes it a must-see for many whale watchers, and various whale-based tourism agencies have sprouted up as a result. The silver whale is the national animal of [[Haesan]]. | The '''silver whale''' ({{em|'''Megaptera argenteus'''}}) is a species of baleen whale. It is a rorqual (a member of the family Balaenopteridae) and along with the humpback whale is one of the two species in the genus Megaptera. Adults range in length from 11–15 m (36–49 ft) and can weigh up to 35 metric tons. The silver whale is known for its pale coloration which derives from a naturally selected preference for albinism. The whale is commonly found off the eastern coast of [[Hesperida]], and populations have been sighted in the Albarine Sea, [[Promethean Sea]], and [[Tenebric Ocean]]. Silver whale populations migrate less than their peer species, as their pale coat leads them to favor relatively warmer waters even in the summertime. The silver whale is listed as vulnerable, as it has long been a target for poachers, although legislation to protect the species has been passed by many nations. Their distinctive coloration makes it a must-see for many whale watchers, and various whale-based tourism agencies have sprouted up as a result. The silver whale is the national animal of [[Haesan]]. | ||
== Taxonomy == | |||
=== Nomenclature === | |||
The genus name, ''Balaenoptera'', means ''winged whale'', referring to the small hump found both on the silver whale and the more common humpback whale. The species name ''argentus'' comes from the latin for silver, referring to its shiny white skin and doubling as a literal translation of the animal's common Korean name, ''eungorae,'' meaning silver whale. The full name was formalized by Haesanite biologist S.Y. Cho (Cho Su-yeong) in her 1872 work ''Taxonomies of Haesan'', up to that point the most complete taxonomic register of the fauna of Haesan. In the 1920s, [[Sanctaria|Sanctarian]] taxonomist Henry Richards started a campaign to rename the silver whale to ''M. albus'', or "white whale" claiming that it was a more accurate biological interpretation. However, due to the longstanding cultural references in Eastern Hesperida to the silver whale, the suggestion was never broadly accepted. | |||
=== Evolution === | |||
The silver whale is estimated to have evolved from the humpback whale between 3.3 and 1.8 million years ago, as the population naturally selected for albinism that arose from genetic mutations. Biologists now theorize that the mutation allowed the whales to stay cooler in the warm Albarine Sea waters, and thus remain in the more fertile feeding grounds in those waters for longer periods of time. Fossil records also show that the silver whale exerted dominance in the region around 1.4 million years ago, when abnormally high global temperatures further favored the lighter pigmentation of the silver whale. Around that time is when distinct behavioral and mating patterns emerged amongst silver whale populations, and these changes were significant enough to allow speciation to occur. | |||
[[Category:Ecology]][[Category:Haesan]] | [[Category:Ecology]][[Category:Haesan]] | ||
Revision as of 16:16, 27 August 2023
| Silver whale | |
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| Adult silver whale (Balaenoptera argentus) | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota
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| Kingdom: | Animalia
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| Phylum: | Chordata
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| Class: | Mammalia
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| Order: | Artiodactyla
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| Infraorder: | Cetacea
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| Family: | Balaenopteridae
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| Genus: | Megaptera
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| Species: | M. argenteus
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| Binomial name | |
| Megaptera argenteus S.Y. Cho, 1872
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| Synonyms | |
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The silver whale (Megaptera argenteus) is a species of baleen whale. It is a rorqual (a member of the family Balaenopteridae) and along with the humpback whale is one of the two species in the genus Megaptera. Adults range in length from 11–15 m (36–49 ft) and can weigh up to 35 metric tons. The silver whale is known for its pale coloration which derives from a naturally selected preference for albinism. The whale is commonly found off the eastern coast of Hesperida, and populations have been sighted in the Albarine Sea, Promethean Sea, and Tenebric Ocean. Silver whale populations migrate less than their peer species, as their pale coat leads them to favor relatively warmer waters even in the summertime. The silver whale is listed as vulnerable, as it has long been a target for poachers, although legislation to protect the species has been passed by many nations. Their distinctive coloration makes it a must-see for many whale watchers, and various whale-based tourism agencies have sprouted up as a result. The silver whale is the national animal of Haesan.
Taxonomy
Nomenclature
The genus name, Balaenoptera, means winged whale, referring to the small hump found both on the silver whale and the more common humpback whale. The species name argentus comes from the latin for silver, referring to its shiny white skin and doubling as a literal translation of the animal's common Korean name, eungorae, meaning silver whale. The full name was formalized by Haesanite biologist S.Y. Cho (Cho Su-yeong) in her 1872 work Taxonomies of Haesan, up to that point the most complete taxonomic register of the fauna of Haesan. In the 1920s, Sanctarian taxonomist Henry Richards started a campaign to rename the silver whale to M. albus, or "white whale" claiming that it was a more accurate biological interpretation. However, due to the longstanding cultural references in Eastern Hesperida to the silver whale, the suggestion was never broadly accepted.
Evolution
The silver whale is estimated to have evolved from the humpback whale between 3.3 and 1.8 million years ago, as the population naturally selected for albinism that arose from genetic mutations. Biologists now theorize that the mutation allowed the whales to stay cooler in the warm Albarine Sea waters, and thus remain in the more fertile feeding grounds in those waters for longer periods of time. Fossil records also show that the silver whale exerted dominance in the region around 1.4 million years ago, when abnormally high global temperatures further favored the lighter pigmentation of the silver whale. Around that time is when distinct behavioral and mating patterns emerged amongst silver whale populations, and these changes were significant enough to allow speciation to occur.