Mammals of Korea: a review of their taxonomy, distribution and conservation status Author Jo, Yeong-Seok Author Baccus, John T. Author Koprowski, John L. text Zootaxa 2018 2018-11-19 4522 1 1 216 journal article 27944 10.11646/zootaxa.4522.1.1 58e0c7c5-75ec-4b1b-beb0-d01527f710f9 1175-5326 2610198 C24EFA8A-A5A0-4B06-A0A9-632F542B9529 Balaenoptera physalus ( Linnaeus, 1758 ) —Fin Whale Balaena physalus Linnaeus, 1758 p.75 ; Type locality- Norway . Sibbalius veliferus : True, 1884 p.591 . Balaenoptera velifera copei Elliot, 1901 p.13 ; Type locality- Shumagin Island , Alaska . Balaenoptera physalus : Kuroda, 1938 p.10 ; Ellerman & Morrison-Scott, 1951 p.715 ; Won, 1958 p.433 ; Won, 1967 p.77 ; Won, 1968 p.238 ; Kim et al ., 2000 p.54 ; Kim, 2004 p.219 . Balaenoptera swinhoii : Kuroda, 1938 p.11 . Range: Fishermen have caught B. physalus along all the coasts of Korea , but observations of this whale came primarily from the East Sea ( Fig. 79 ). The harvest of 921 fin whales from 1958 to 1982 possibly led to their rarefaction ( Park 1987 ). In 1996, the stranded body of a fin whale was found at Incheon . Observations of this species in spring and autumn on the northeastern coast follow the October to May migrations in the Yellow Sea ( Kim 2004 ). During August and November, these whales appear congregate around the southern coast. Remarks: Although the polyphyletic fin whales are clustered into three genetic clades, the taxonomic status of fin whales in the North Pacific Ocean remains unresolved ( National Marine Fisheries Service 2013 ). Conservation status: The South Korean government designated B. physalus as a Protected Marine Species in 2007. The Red Data Book of North Korea listed it as a ‘Rare’ species (MAB National Committee of DPR Korea 2002 ). This species is listed on Appendix I of CITES.