Searching for larger baleen whales in Myanmar -The first record of Balaenoptera omurai-
Myanmar faces the Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea, the very eastern end of northern indian Ocean
Which species of larger baleen whales in habit the Indian Ocean? How they live and die in the seas around Myanmar?
Holmes et al (2014) listed Balaenoptera edeni and B. musculus as confirmed Indian-Ocean dwellers, and referred to the possibility of B. physalis and B. acutorostrala. They also stated it would be necessary to “Conduct an inventory of whale skeletons in the country including confirming and updating descriptions, identifications and location data”.
National Museum of Nature and Science initiated the research project “Biological Inventory with special attention to Myanmar”, collaborating with the Forest Department, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation, Myanmar, and as a part of this project we reviewed large whale specimens preserved in various research institutions in Myanmar in the four consecutive trips made between 2016 and 2020, to get a glimpse on the large baleen whale fauna found in the seas around Myanmar. In addition to the known two balaenopterids, B. muscles and B. edeni, we found five specimens of B. omurai, a newly introduced balaenopterids in 2003.
Holmes et al, 2014. Marine Conservation in Myanmar. Current knowledge and research recommendations., WCS and MSAM.
Balaenoptera edeni | Bryde's whale | Confirmed |
---|---|---|
Balaenoptera musculus | Blue whale | Confirmed |
Balaenoptera acutorostrata | Common minke whale | Probable |
Balaenoptera physalus | Fin whale | Possible |
![Balaenoptera edeni and Balaenoptera musculus](img/fig01.png)
Institutions we visited in this study
No. | Institution |
---|---|
1 | Yangon Zoo, Natural History Museum |
2 | Pathein University |
3 | Mawlamyaing University |
4 | Dawei University |
5 | Myeik University |
6 | Hlawga Fishery Station |
7 | Ministry of Fishery, Nay Pyi Taw |
![Institution](img/fig02.png)
We visited 7institutions and examined 19 individuals.
Balaenopterid specimens preserved in Myanmar
Institution | ID | Species name | State Region | Township | Found date | Body length m(Ft) |
Body length cm |
Specimens |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Yangon Zoo Natural History Museum |
NHMY1 | Balaenptera musculus | Rakhaine | Jan. 19 1987 | 21.95 (72') | 501 | Articulated skeleton | |
Mawlamyaing University | MMU2 | Balaenptera musculus | Mon | Paun | Jan. 2006 | 192.0 (63') | 495 (L) and 496 (R) mandibles |
Almost complete skeleton |
Hlawga Fishery Station | FDH1 | Balaenoptera edeni | Rakhaine | Kyentali | April, 2017 | ca. 278 | Whole skeleton (incomplete) |
|
Hlawga Fishery Station | FDH3 | Balaenoptera edeni | Rakhaine | 2007 | ca. 285 | Whole skeleton (incomplete) |
||
Hlawga Fishery Station | FDH6 | Balaenoptera edeni | Ayeyawadi | ? | ? | ca. 307.5 | Skull and Postcranials | |
Mawlamyaing University | MMU1 | Balaenoptera edeni | Mon | Paung | 1997 | 299 | Skull and Postcranials | |
Pathein University | PTU1 | Balaenoptera edeni | Ayeyawadi | Ngwe Saung | June, 2015 | Skull and Postcranials | ||
Myeik University | MYU1 | Balaenoptera edeni | Thanintharyi | Kawthaung | Mar. 2004 | ca. 174 | Skull and Postcranials | |
Hlawga Fishery Station | FDH2 | Balaenoptera omurai | Rakhaine | Gwa | 2016 | 227 Right mandible |
Severely broken skull and some post cranials |
|
Dawei University | DWU1 | Balaenoptera omurai | Thanintharyi | Laung-Lone | June 27 2005 | 11.1 (36'6") | 275.5+ | Skull and Postcranials |
Ministry of Fishery Nay Pyi Taw |
FDNPT1 | Balaenoptera omurai | Thanintharyi | Bokepyim | 2000 | 9.45 (31') | ca. 228 | Articulated skeleton |
Myeik University | MYU2 | Balaenoptera omurai | Thanintharyi | Dawei | 2007 | ca. 265 | Skull and Postcranials | |
Myeik University | MYU3 | Balaenoptera omurai | Thanintharyi | Mergui islands | ? | ca. 245 | Skull only |
Balaenopterid specimens preserved in Myanmar
Species known to exist
Species name | Number of individuals |
State / Region found |
---|---|---|
Balaenptera musculus blue whale |
2 | Rakhaine / Mon |
Balaenoptera edeni Eden's whale (Sittang whale) |
6 | Rakhaine / Ayeyawadi / Mon / Thanintharyi |
A species newly confirmed by the present study
Species name | Number of individuals |
State / Region found |
---|---|---|
Balaenoptera omurai Omura's whale |
5 | Rakhaine / Thanintharyi |
Five specimens of B. omurai were confirmed, which is the first confirmation of the species in Myanmar.
Balaenoptera edeni | Bryde's whale | Confirmed |
---|---|---|
Balaenoptera musculus | Blue whale | Confirmed |
Balaenoptera omurai | Omura's whale | Confirmed |
![Balaenoptera omurai](img/fig03.png)
Eden's whale and Omura's whale
![Eden's whale vs Omura's whale](img/fig04.png)
![Eden's whale premaxilla](img/fig05.png)
![Omura's whale premaxilla](img/fig06.png)
![Eden's whale and Omura's whale](img/fig07.png)
![Omura's whale and Omura's whale distribution](img/fig08.png)
Balaenopterid skeletons preserved in Myanmar
Balaenopterid skeletons in Myanmar identified to species level were 15.
Their geographical distribution is as below.
Species | Rakhaine | Ayeyawadi | Mon | Thanintharyi | 15 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Balaenptera musculus | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
Balaenoptera edeni | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
Balaenoptera omurai | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 5 |
In the present study on the baleen whale distribution in the very eastern end of the northern indian Ocean, B. omurai was confirmed in addition to B. musculus and B. edeni hitherto known. Confirmation of these data would be significant for conservation of the species.
Blue whale skeleton
![Blue whale skeleton01](img/fig09.png)
![Blue whale skeleton02](img/fig10.png)
Eden's whale skeleton
![Eden's whale skeleton01](img/fig11.png)
![Eden's whale skeleton02](img/fig12.png)
![Eden's whale skeleton03](img/fig13.png)
![Eden's whale skeleton04](img/fig14.png)
![Eden's whale skeleton05](img/fig15.png)
![Eden's whale skeleton06](img/fig16.png)
Omura's whale skeleton
![Omura's whale skeleton01](img/fig17.png)
![Omura's whale skeleton02](img/fig18.png)
![Omura's whale skeleton03](img/fig19.png)
![Omura's whale skeleton04](img/fig20.png)
![Omura's whale skeleton05](img/fig21.png)
Institution
No. | Institution |
---|---|
1 | Yangon Zoo, Natural History Museum |
2 | Pathein University |
3 | Mawlamyaing University |
4 | Dawei University |
5 | Myeik University |
6 | Hlawga Fishery Station |
7 | Ministry of Fishery, Nay Pyi Taw |
![Skeleton institution](img/fig02.png)