A new whale species has been discovered in the Gulf of Mexico.
According to an article published by Marine Mammal Science, the species — initially thought to be the Bryde's whale — is being called the "Rice's whale" by scientists in honor of American biologist Dale Rice, who was the first researcher to discover Bryde's whales in the Gulf of Mexico.
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Unfortunately, researchers at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said there are likely less than 100 Rice's whales remaining. The species is listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act and is protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.