Big Finner vs Pale ghost shark

Balaenoptera physalus compared with Hydrolagus bemisi

Key Differences

• Big Finner is Endangered while Pale ghost shark is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Big Finner	Pale ghost shark
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Mammalia (Mammals)	Holocephali (Holocephali)
Order	Cetacea (Whales & Dolphins)	Chimaeriformes (Chimaeriformes)
Family	Balaenopteridae (Rorquals)	Chimaeridae
Genus	Balaenoptera (Rorquals)	Hydrolagus
Species	Balaenoptera physalus	Hydrolagus bemisi

Evolutionary Relationship

Big Finner and Pale ghost shark share a common ancestor at the Phylum level: Chordata. (Chordates)

Conservation Status

Big Finner

EN — Endangered

Pale ghost shark

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Big Finner	Pale ghost shark
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Big Finner

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests, flooded grasslands and savannas, and montane grasslands and shrublands, among 4 distinct biome types within the Neotropic biogeographic realm.

Range

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

Pale ghost shark

Big Finner

Big Finner (Balaenoptera physalus) is classified as Endangered (EN) on the IUCN Red List. At high risk of extinction in the wild, with significant population decline and ongoing threats to survival.