Translation 2783

Genus (Japerea Cray , 1264 .
(Pygmy llight-waaIes)
• • • • • 1 70
Pygmy >flight Uhale (Caperea marr;inata Gray, 1846)
Whales ol tnis species constitute a separate genus and differ
from other right whales not only in their smaller size (maximum body
length up to 6.0 or 6.5 metres) but also in otûer features. An external
feature is that there is a small dorsal fin in the Posterior
third of the body.
Fig. 44.
Pue. 44. Kap.aummodi MaJ1Kiu1 itT,
Pygmy right whale. •
The body of this whale is massive, but much elongated as com-
.pared with other right whales,•and in shape it resembles a .
There are no folds on the ventral side.
rorqual.
The body is black, with separate
grey stripes along the .sides,. beginning at the level Of the
flippers. 1 . he belly is usually lighter in colour. The skin is smooth,
without parasites and without projections'at the tip of the snout,
but sometimes one observes a backward-pointing cartilaginous process .
on i -b. • The head occupies nearly one-quarter of tae body length. The'
upper jaw contains 200-230 light-yellow baleen plates.
The outer edge.
of the baleen is dark or dark-brown. The lower jaw does not have an
arch-shaped or trapezoidal. projection upward (as is typical of bow.:
head and southern . right whales); The oral cavity and the tongue are
white. '1..he flippers are relatively short and have a manus consisting
of only four phalanges.
There is no sternum, and taerefore -the ly
pairs of ribs are free. An important distinction is the shoi.tened
spine, in which there are only two lumbar vertebrae. The total number
of vertebrae is 42 (seven cervical, 17 thoracic, two lumbar, and 16
caudal).
other right wnales.
There is an appendix to the caecum, a feature •not found in
ryiny richt whales are found only in the soutnern hemisPhere,
in waters with temperature from 5 o to 20 0 They occur mainly in
tue Great Australian eight, off Tasmania, aLd off :_ioutû island - (f (3w
Zealand).