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Clearwater Marine Aquarium is a working animal hospital dedicated to the rescue. rehabilitation, and release of marine life and a leader in research and conservation efforts to protect animals in the wild. Donate to support our mission today!

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Blog & News

New Whale Species Discovered

Photo credit: NOAA

Clearwater Marine Aquarium Partners with NOAA to Debut a Landmark Discovery

In January 2019, a 38-foot-long whale washed ashore in the Florida Everglades with a large piece of plastic found in its gut. Scientists believed it was a subspecies of the Bryde’s whale – named the Rice’s whale after the American biologist Dale Rice.

Now, researchers have confirmed that the whale was actually not a subspecies, but an entirely new species of whale found in the Gulf of Mexico. And they are already critically endangered with fewer than 100 members left in its population.

Photo credit: NOAA SEPAC MMPA Permit No. 779-1633 P

Scientists have been studying this small group as early as the 1990s believing they were rare and needed protection. Their observations prompted NOAA Fisheries to collect genetic data from the animals during vessel surveys in the Gulf of Mexico. It wasn’t until NOAA scientist Dr Patricia Rosel was able to examine the skull of the Everglades whale that she was able to determine the most noticeable morphological difference between the new species and its closest relatives – its skull.

Photo credit: NOAA
Photo credit: NOAA

The morphological differences, when combined with the genetic data collected, were enough to distinguish this as a new species of baleen whale.

Learn more about the finding in this January 2021article in Marine Mammal Science.

New exhibit to feature recently discovered species of baleen whale

Guests who attend CMA’s new exhibition, Whales: Living with Giants, will be immersed into the world of discovering a new species with education panels and a life-size replica of this new species, the Rice’s whale.

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We believe in preserving our environment while inspiring the human spirit through leadership in the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of marine life; environmental education; research; and conservation.
We are a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization.

Clearwater Marine Aquarium
249 Windward Passage
Clearwater, FL 33767
727-441-1790

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A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION FOR CLEARWATER MARINE AQUARIUM, A FL-BASED NONPROFIT CORPORATION (REGISTRATION NO. CH352), MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE 1-800-435-7352 WITHIN THE STATE OR BY VISITING www.800helpfla.com. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE. Federal Tax ID#: 59-2086737.

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