Big eye chimaera vs Buckelwal

Hydrolagus macrophthalmus compared with Megaptera novaeangliae

Key Differences

• Big eye chimaera is Least Concern while Buckelwal is Vulnerable.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Big eye chimaera	Buckelwal
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Holocephali (Holocephali)	Mammalia (Mammals)
Order	Chimaeriformes (Chimaeriformes)	Cetacea (Whales & Dolphins)
Family	Chimaeridae	Balaenopteridae (Rorquals)
Genus	Hydrolagus	Megaptera (Humpback Whales)
Species	Hydrolagus macrophthalmus	Megaptera novaeangliae

Evolutionary Relationship

Big eye chimaera and Buckelwal share a common ancestor at the Phylum level: Chordata. (Chordates)

Conservation Status

Big eye chimaera

LC — Least Concern

Buckelwal

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~80.0K

Trend: Increasing ↑

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Big eye chimaera	Buckelwal
Diet	—	Carnivore
Average Lifespan	—	50 years
Average Length	—	15.0 m
Average Weight	—	30.0 t

Habitat & Geographic Range

Big eye chimaera

Habitat

Native to South America, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Range

Found in Chile.

Buckelwal

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests, and tropical and subtropical grasslands and savannas, among 11 distinct biome types. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Widely distributed across Asia (Taiwan), Europe (5 countries), and South America (Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela). Currently classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Big eye chimaera

The Big eye chimaera (Hydrolagus macrophthalmus) is a species in the genus Hydrolagus. It is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Native to South America, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Buckelwal

Among the most acrobatic of the great whales, humpback whales are renowned for their complex, haunting songs sung by males during breeding season — some lasting hours and evolving over time. Reaching 16 meters and 30 tonnes, they undertake the longest migrations of any mammal. Found in all oceans, humpbacks feed on krill and small fish using cooperative bubble-net feeding. Populations have largely recovered from historic whaling.