Abstract
Background: Until 2015, the aquatic mammal’s biodiversity in the Mexican Caribbean was unknown, but that year 18 species were confirmed to be distributed in this region, none of them a Rorcual species. Goals: The aim of this study is to report on the first record of a Balaenopteridae whale in the Mexican Caribbean. Methods: The CONANP and RVMMEQR attended a stranding event at the Isla Contoy National Park. Results: On August 2, 2018, a stranded alive whale was found. The animal was identified as a ~18m (in length) fin whale Balaenoptera physalus. It was guided to deep waters and released. Conclusions: This note is the first confirmed record of this species in the Mexican Caribbean increasing the list of confirmed aquatic mammal species distributed in this region.
