Divers Discussion Forum
You can reply to the message below by clicking the reply to this message link. If you have a question or have seen something interesting please please send us a new message. Wade or some of our viewers will reply to your questions.
[ Home | Contents | Search | Post a new message | Reply to this message | Next Message | Previous Message ]
From: Michel Raynal
_: 5
Date: 04-02-10
Time: 06:59
I am the author of the old article on "cetaceans with two dorsal fins" (Aquatic Mammals, 17, 1991, pp. 31-36) referred to by Claire Garrigue. In this paper, I studied several historical cases, and my conclusion was that some reports might be explained by teratogical cases, like the present cases from New Caledonia and Vanuatu (now with photographic evidence). On the other hand, I still think that the whale observed by naturalist Enrico Hillyer Giglioli off Chile in 1867 and which he named Amphiptera pacifica, actually was an unknown species, because apart from its second dorsal fin, it had several other specific features (such as the lack of any gular ridge). A drawing of this whale by Giglioli can be found here : http://pagesperso-orange.fr/cryptozoo/dossiers/amphiptera.jpg Michel RAYNAL
Last changed: 23-Jul-2011
