The occurrence of the Pygmy Right Whale Caperea marginata (Cetacea: Neobalaenidae), along the Australian coast.

Abstract

The occurrence of Caperea marginata, based on strandings, along the mainland coast of Australia was investigated and compared with Tasmanian records. Details were obtained for 29 mainland and 38 Tasmanian reports to March 1989. Mainland strandings of C. marginata were spatially clumped, with 19 records from South Australia and within this state, eight from Kangaroo Island and five from Port Lincoln Bay. The most northerly records were from Nowra (New South Wales) and Fremantle (Western Australia). The majority of mainland strandings were juveniles recorded from September-January, although C. marginata has also stranded during April-June. Tasmanian records extended throughout the year and animals stranded were mostly adults. The proportion of adults to juveniles was significantly lower for the mainland (nine adult, II juvenile) than Tasmania (21 adult, three juvenile), indicating that juveniles occur more frequently at the northern edge of the species' distribution. Examination of seasonal variation in length of foetal, calf and juvenile records indicated a gestation period of about 10 months and a weaning period of about 5 months. There appears to be a broad mating, calving and weaning period over some 8 months.