Lagenorhynchus acutus (Gray, 1828)

Wiig, Øystein & Bachmann, Lutz, 2013, The mammal type specimens at the Natural History Museum, University of Oslo, Norway, Zootaxa 3736 (5), pp. 587-597 : 595

Delphinus leucoplaurus Rasch, 1843

Nyt Magazin for Naturvidenskaberne, 4, 100.

Valid name. Lagenorhynchus acutus (Gray, 1828)

Syntype: NHMO 2645, skeleton with skull, collected by fishermen at Drøbak, Norway, 1842.

Remarks. According to the original description (Rasch 1843a) a total of 23 specimens were originally captured with nets and 22 (18 males, two females, and two unknown sex) of them were handed to the attention of H. Rasch. All specimens were prepared as skeletons; half of them also with skins that were later distributed to various museums within Norway and abroad (Collett 1911-1912). The original description was based on one male and one female. The only specimen present in the NHM collection today is NHMO 2645 with the skull labeled: Lagenorhynchus acutus ( D. leucopleurus xxxx) Drøbak 1842 Rasch”.

The name was listed as a valid synonym by Wilson and Reeder (2005). However, Perrin (2012) listed it as unaccepted. In fact, Rasch (1843b) noted in the same volume of the journal that published the description of the new species that he had misunderstood a description of similar whales by Professor Eschricht. He therefore withdrew his suggestion of a new name.