The single member of this family, the pygmy right whale (Caperea marginata), is found in the cold-temperate waters of the southern hemisphere. Usually included in the family Balaenidae in the past, they differ from members of that family in several ways. They are small, only up to about 6 m. The body is gray, lacking the striking black and white markings common in balaenids. Caperea has, however, a striikingly white mouth and tongue. It also has a small, falcate dorsal fin.
This species is poorly known. It probably does not school or migrate long distances. They are believed to feed on copepods. The species is too uncommon to be of much importance to commercial whalers.
 pygmy right whale |
 right whale dreams |
 right whale (artistic rendition) |
families of Mysticetes: Balaenidae -- right and bowhead whales Neobalaenidae -- pygmy right whale Balaenopteridae -- rorquals Eschrichtiidae -- gray whale families of Odontocetes: Physeteridae -- sperm whale Monodontidae -- narwhal and white whale Ziphiidae -- beaked whales Delphinidae -- ocean dolphins Phocoenidae -- porpoises Platanistidae -- river dolphins
<<<<<<<>>>>>>> ARTIODACTYLA CARNIVORA CETACEA CHIROPTERA DASYUROMORPHIA DERMOPTERA DIDELPHIMORPHI DIPROTODONTIA HYRACOIDEA INSECTIVORA LAGOMORPHA MACROSCELIDEA MICROBIOTHERIA MONOTREMATA NOTORYCTEMORPHIA PAUCITUBERCULATA PERAMELEMORPHIA PERISSODACTYLA PHOLIDOTA PRIMATES PROBOSCIDEA RODENTIA SCANDENTIA SIRENIA TUBULIDENTATA XENARTHRA
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