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A new record of a white humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) in Papeete, Tahiti
De Weerdt, J. (2023). A new record of a white humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) in Papeete, Tahiti. J. Mar. Biol. Ass. U.K. 103: e78. https://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S002531542300067X
In: Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. Cambridge University Press/Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom: Cambridge. ISSN 0025-3154; e-ISSN 1469-7769, more
Peer reviewed article  
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Keywords
    Mammalia [WoRMS]; Megaptera novaeangliae (Borowski, 1781) [WoRMS]
    Marine/Coastal
Author keywords
    albinism; French Polynesia; leucism; marine mammal; Oceania; pigmentation; stock F
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Abstract

    A new record of a white humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) was made off Papeete, Tahiti in July 2019. The individual was completely white, except for grey patterns on its body and on the ventral part of the fluke. The presence of different colourations indicates that this individual is not an albino but a leucistic individual. According to field observations, the individual was likely a juvenile or a subadult. It was seen breaching several times and travelled further north of Papeete, where the animal was recaptured off Arue. White individuals are rare and offer unique opportunities to understand whale movement patterns and potential population connectivity among humpback whale populations.

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