Osteological pathology in a Humpback ( Megaptera novaeangliae) and Fin ( Balaenoptera physalus) whale skeleton

Abstract

The Natural History Collections, Bergen Museum, The University of Bergen, Norway, houses a large collection of Baleen whale skeletons within which one mature Fin ( Balaenoptera physalus) and one juvenile Humpback ( Megaptera novaeangliae) whale skeleton exhibit notable osteological pathologies that are reported in this brief communication. The Humpback skeleton has a large lesion on the maxilla characterised by loss of bone and remodelling. The lesion would appear to be a healing injury caused by trauma to the area of the gums and adjacent soft tissue. This specimen also exhibits numerous localised areas of infection along the length of the vertebral column and bridging between two cervical vertebrae attributed to spondyloarthropathy. Such pathologies have rarely been reported in juvenile cetaceans. The Fin whale specimen exhibits eight rib fractures, which may be the result of a boat collision and numerous areas of excess bone growth at the superior edge of the vertebral spinous processes which are of unknown aetiology but may be a consequence of the forces acting upon the spine during aquatic locomotion or dysbaric osteonecrosis, caused by diving.