Unorthodox sampling of a fin Whale's (Balaenoptera physalus) diet yields several new mesopelagic prey species

Fin whales are large filter feeders that target aggregated small crustaceans and fishes that occur in bulk in the upper 500 m of the water column. Much of the knowledge on fin whale diet stems from stomach content analyses associated with whaling. Whales’ intestines were not normally sampled but should also hold prey remains since prey have also been identified from faeces. Further, if successive meals vary, the stomach and intestine may contain different prey. Therefore, dietary information may be missed if only stomach contents are examined.

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