Rice’s whale, a newly identified species, stands out as an extraordinary marine mammal with a distinctive presence in the Gulf of Mexico. Until recently, it was classified under the broader category of Bryde’s whales but has been recognized as a separate species based on unique genetic and skeletal characteristics. This distinction marks an exciting development in marine biology, shedding light on the biodiversity hidden within our oceans.

This whale can be recognized by its robust body, which measures around 13 m (42 ft) in length when fully grown, making it one of the larger marine creatures, though not as massive as the blue whale. It exhibits a sleek, dark gray body with a lighter underbelly, a common color scheme in the aquatic environment that helps camouflage from predators and prey. One of the notable physical features of Rice’s whale is its dorsal fin, which is tall, falcate (sickle-shaped), and located about two-thirds down its back, a typical feature for baleen whales that help distinguish it from others.

The head of Rice’s whale is flat and broad with a distinct ridge running from its blowhole to the tip of its snout, which is known as the “rostrum.” This feature is particularly adapted to its feeding habits. Rice’s whales are baleen whales, meaning they have baleen plates instead of teeth. These plates are used to filter small fish, squid, and zooplankton from the water, a method known as filter feeding. They are known to feed by lunging into dense schools of fish and using their baleen plates to sieve food from the water, a technique seen in many large whale species.

Distribution

Country

Population est.

Status

Year

Comments

United States

<50

Official estimate

CR

2021

Gulf of Mexico

Recent Updates

July 2024: Several members of Congress from the Gulf Coast region are pushing back against the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s plan to designate just over 28,000 square miles of the Gulf as critical habitat for the approximately 50 remaining Rice’s whales, marking the first significant effort to protect the habitat of this exceedingly rare whale.

Did you know?

• The Deepwater Horizon oil spill resulted in the deaths of nearly 20% of the Rice’s whale population.
• It is among the world’s most endangered cetaceans, along with the vaquita.