Neobalaenidae

Neobalaenidae is a family of baleen whales (Mysticeti) that currently includes Caperea marginata, the pygmy right whale, as its only living species, plus several extinct taxa known from fossils dating from the Miocene to the Pliocene. The group's evolutionary position has been debated: some morphological analyses placed Caperea with the right whales (Balaenoidea), while many molecular studies support Neobalaenidae as a distinct lineage, sometimes sister to the rest of the baleen whales.

Caperea marginata is among the smallest baleen whales, typically about 4 to 5 meters long. It inhabits temperate and subantarctic waters of the Southern Hemisphere and is usually found in pelagic habitats at low population densities.

Diet consists of zooplankton, primarily copepods and euphausiids, filtered from seawater through baleen plates. Social behavior is poorly understood; individuals are often seen alone or in small groups.

The Neobalaenidae fossil record begins in the Miocene, with several extinct genera and species described from deposits around multiple continents. These fossils illuminate early diversification within baleen whales and the distinct Caperea lineage.

Conservation: Caperea marginata is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, but population data are limited, and threats include entanglement in fishing gear and boat strikes.