A new species of whale has been discovered in the Gulf of Mexico – but scientists warn that the animal is in critical danger.
The newly identified fin whale species has been dubbed the “rice whale” in honor of American biologist Dale Rice, who was the first to recognize the mammal.
Researchers from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) thought that whales were a subspecies of Bryde’s whale, however, the agency announced that it was actually an entirely new species in an article published in Marine Mammal Science.
The discovery was made after examining the skull of a Rice whale that appeared on a Florida beach in 2019.
Differences in the whale’s skull clearly separate Rice whales from Byrde’s whales, which are closely related to the blue whale and humpback, marine biologists said.
Rice whales are filter feeders that can weigh up to 60,000 pounds and grow to 42 feet in length.
Unfortunately, however, it is estimated that there are still less than 100.
The species is listed as critically endangered by the Endangered Species Act and is protected by the Marine Mammals Protection Act.
Its biggest threats include ship collisions, ocean noise, energy exploration and production, oil spills, fishing gear entanglement and ocean debris, according to the NOAA.