We investigated growth related changes, sex-based differences, and variation in the white flipper patches of 240 North Pacific minke whales
Balaenoptera acutorostrata. Previously reported photographic data of North Atlantic minke whales (
n=13) were also used for interoceanic comparison. In the North Pacific specimens the size of the white patch was larger in males (33.8%) than in females (31.8%). The relative area of the white patch decreased during development, and tended to be larger in the males. The relative length of white patch to flipper length (33.4%) and area of the white to flipper area (38.8%) in North Pacific specimens were significantly smaller than the corresponding length (40.7%) and area (55.5%) in North Atlantic specimens. Although the proximal boundary contour of the white patch was straight in North Atlantic specimens, it was meandering in North Pacific specimens. The findings in this study suggest that the morphology of the white flipper patch can be applicable to the elucidation of common minke whale speciation.
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