Unprecedented record of unique Bryde's whale (Balaenoptera edeni) off the southern coast of the marine environmental protection area, São Paulo state, Brazil.

Abstract

This note documents the first record of a Bryde’s whale (Balaenoptera edeni) in the South Coast Marine Environmental Protection Area (APAMLS), State of São Paulo, Brazil. This observation was made during the environmental monitoring activity of the Center, on December 7, 2016. A single specimen was sighted and photographed near the Island of Cardoso, south coast of the State of São Paulo. This species occurs between parallels of 40 ° N and 40 ° S, however, Bryde’s whale observations are still very limited on the Brazilian coast. These records represent important sources for knowing the biology and ecology of the species, besides subsidizing policies of environmental planning for the South Coast Marine (EPA).