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First record of a fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) in coastal waters of Ecuador in a century

Abstract:

A male 16.9m fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) was stranded on 3 April 2019 at Chanduy southwestern Ecuador (2°23’29.4”S, 80°44’17.96”W). Its colouration pattern, including the whitecoloured right side of the mouth and around 200 cream‐coloured baleens, are characteristics of the species. This is the first confirmed record of the species in almost a century in mainland Ecuador. A skin sample was taken for molecular studies. Fragments of the D‐loop and CytB mitochondrial genes were amplified and compared with global databases. The D‐loop fragment matched with a haplotype found in a fin whale from the Central‐south of Chile and the CytB with several populations in both hemispheres. Our findings confirm that the Ecuadorian coast is part of the distribution area of southeastern Pacific fin whales.