noun
North Atlantic right whale
Scientific name Eubalaena glacialis. A baleen whale species found in the North Atlantic.
タイセイヨウセミクジラは絶滅危惧種に指定されている。
The North Atlantic right whale is designated as an endangered species.
Katakana spelling is standard for this species name; usually written in kana.
Kanji spelling is rare and mainly encountered in older or specialized texts.
Refers to right whales in general (genus Eubalaena), while タイセイヨウセミクジラ specifies the North Atlantic species.
Compound of 大西洋 (たいせいよう, 'Atlantic Ocean') + 背美鯨 (せみくじら, 'right whale'). The kanji 背美鯨 is ateji based on the whale's appearance and the sound 'semi'.