Hokkaido University Museum will hold a special exhibition, "Whale Fossils - From the Collection of the Sapporo City Museum Activity Center," from September 12th to January 25th.

A "giant" right whale fossil, measuring over 12 meters in length, said to be the best-preserved in the world, was discovered in Sapporo. Research was conducted at the Sapporo City Museum Activity Center, and in August 2025, the fossil was named a new genus and species, Megabellina sapporoensis.

This exhibition will provide the latest information on whale fossils in Sapporo, as well as actual, scaled-down, and restored right whale fossils discovered in Minami Ward, Sapporo, and housed at the center, as well as precious baleen whale fossils discovered throughout Hokkaido. While addressing questions such as "How are living creatures named?" and "What is a type specimen?", the exhibition will introduce the role and culture of museums through baleen whale fossils. This is a traveling exhibition with minor changes to the special exhibition "The World's Greatest Right Whale Fossils," which ran until August 30 at the Sapporo Museum Activity Center.

Click here for more information. *You will be redirected to Hokkaido University Museum website.