Cetacean Descriptions

Baleen Whale

Whale with plates of whalebone along the upper jaw for filtering plankton from the water.

Beaked Whale

A group of cetaceans noted as being one of the least known groups of mammals because of their deep-sea habitat and apparent low abundance. Only 3-4 of the 22 species are reasonably well-known. They are also the deepest mammalian divers.

Cetacean

A member of the order of marine mammals that includes whales, dolphins, and porpoises.

Rorqual

Any of a family (Balaenopteridae) of large baleen whales that have relatively small heads, short, broad plates of baleen, and the skin of the throat marked with deep longitudinal furrows and that include the blue whale, humpback whale, minke whale, fin whale, and sei whale.

Gray's Beaked Whale

[Mesoplodon grayi] Also known as Scamperdown whale or Southern beaked whale. They can grow up to 5-6 meters and males can weigh around 1,100 kg. These whales seem to be the most active at the surface of the beaked whales and have been seen breaching repeatedly at a shallow angle. When swimming they make low, arc-shaped leaps, and when surfacing they typically poke their white beaks out of the water first. They have been observed singly, in pairs, and in small groups. Scars and rake marks indicate there may be competition among males for mates. They appear to prefer deep waters beyond the continental shelf in temperate southern hemisphere waters below 30ºS. There are a fair number of sightings from around the Antarctic Peninsula and the south of South Island in New Zealand is thought to be a bit of a 'hot-spot'. However, there has been a single sighting of one in the Northern Hemisphere. They are thought to feed primarily on squid, although some smaller fish species may also be taken.

Baird's Beaked Whale

[Berardius bairdii] The largest of the beaked whales, they are natural socialites and accomplished divers, swimming to depths of up to 1,200 metres. Thought to be the same species as Arnoux's beaked whale, yet genetic research has proven this not to be the case. Other names include Northern four-toothed whale, Giant bottle-nosed whale, and North Pacific bottlenose whale. They are the largest beaked whales at 10.7-11.1 meters. Females weigh 12,000kg (male weight is unknown). They can live for 50-85 yrs in the North Pacific Ocean. They can comfortably dive to depths of 800 to 1,200 meters deep, which helps them maintain their diet (squid and pelagic/deep-sea fish).

Bowhead Whale

[Balaena mysticetus] Also known as Arctic right whale, Arctic whale, Greenland right whale, Greenland whale, or Polar whale. They are 18-20 meters long, and can weigh 91,000-120,000+ kg. They live only in the the Arctic and subarctic waters, in mostly shallow coastal water less than 200m deep amongst the sea ice. It is the only baleen whale endemic to this area. They move seasonally and venture further north during the summer months as the sea ice melts and recedes. They can live for around 200 years, and are the longest living mammal. Their baleen, which can grow up to 4m, is longer than that of any other whale. They lack dorsal fins due to swimming under and around sea ice. They grow very slowly, and once they are grown they tend to travel alone, or in small pods of two or three individuals. They usually eat krill and copepods, but they can also eat a range of other small invertebrates and fish.

Common Minke Whale

[Balaenoptera acutorostrata] Also known as northern minke whale, this is a species of minke whale within the suborder of baleen whales. It is the smallest species of the rorquals and the second smallest species of baleen whale. They are found in the northern hemisphere and have a white band on their pectoral fin, which the antarctic variety does not have. They can grow up to 6 meters and weigh up to 6,000 kg. Subspecies include the dwarf minke whale and Scammon's minke whale.

Antarctic Minke Whale

[Balaenoptera bonaerensis] Also known as southern _____ whale. It is the second smallest rorqual after the common _____ whale and the third smallest baleen whale. Females are larger than males; they are around 10.7 meters while males are around 9.7 meters. They usually weigh less than 10,000 kg. They found in the southern hemisphere and are distinguishable from the common _____ whale by the lack of a white band on its pectoral fin. They tend to spend most of their time on their own or in very small groups of maybe two or three, although, at certain times of the year large groups have been known to come together to socialize and feed, with as many as 60 whales turning up to join in. They feed on krill, and live in southern oceans as far south as Antarctica and as far north as the equator. They prefer the open ocean. In late fall and winter, large numbers of minke whales can be found in Antarctica, and later disperse to unknown locations, for the summer months.

Sei Whale

[Balaenoptera borealis] The third-largest rorqual after the blue whale and the fin whale. It inhabits most oceans and adjoining seas, and prefers deep offshore waters. It avoids polar and tropical waters and semi-enclosed bodies of water. It is an endangered species. It can be 18 meters long, weigh 20 tonnes, and live up to 70 years.

Bryde's Whale

[Balaenoptera brydei] Other names and subspecies include common ______ whale, pygmy ______ whale, tropical whale, or Eden's whale. Typically reach a length of 13m, with a maximum of 16.3 m, with females being larger. They spend most of their time alone or in pairs, however individuals living close to the shore may feed in groups of 15 or fewer, and those off-shore may be in groups that number up to 30. They usually they stay within 50 feet of the water's surface. Their prey consists of mostly plankton, krill and copepods (tiny crustaceans), and occasionally feast on bigger crustaceans such as crabs and shrimps, and also small schooling fish. They are found in every ocean of the world, but they limit their travel to within tropical, subtropical and warm temperate waters, and are the only baleen whale to spend their entire lives here. Some groups appear stationary while some groups migrate.

Blue Whale

[Balaenoptera musculus] Also knwon as Antarctic blue whale, Great northern rorqual, or Sibbald's rorqual. This is a marine mammal belonging to the baleen whale suborder Mysticeti. Growing to around 29 (m) - 33(f) meters and weighing 150,000 (m) - 190,000(f) kg, they are the largest, loudest, longest, and heaviest animal known to have ever existed. They have an average lifespan of 90 years, though one has lived for 110 yrs. They are endangered, though their population is increasing. In total, there are five subspecies such as the pygmy variety, antarctic variety, etc. They prefer the deep ocean and are rarely seen close to shore. In the Northern Hemisphere, they can be seen in the northeast Pacific, from Alaska to Costa Rica, and migrate towards the northwest of the Pacific. In the North Atlantic Ocean, blue whales can be found near Greenland, Newfoundland and Nova Scotia. In the Southern Hemisphere, small populations remain in the Antarctic, as well as parts of the Indian Ocean.

Omura's Whale

[Balaenoptera omurai] Also known as the dwarf fin whale, it is a species of rorqual about which very little is known. They have asymmetrical markings on their face, and the right side of their lower jaw is white, while the left side is black. Before its formal description, it was referred to as a small, "dwarf" or "pygmy" form of Bryde's whale by various sources. The common name and specific epithet commemorate Japanese cetologist Hideo Omura.

Fin Whale

[Balaenoptera physalus] Also known as ___back whale or common rorqual and formerly known as herring whale or razorback whale. It is the second-largest [whale] species on Earth. Grows to around 20-27 meters, weighs around 60,000-120,000 kg, and has a lifespan of around 85-90 yrs. They have asymmetrical pigmentation; the left side their lower jaw is black, while the right side is bright white. Asymmetrical pigmentation is shared with only one other whale, Omura's whale. They are mostly solitary and are rarely found in groups. They barely breach, spyhop, or raise their tail flukes out of the water. They sometimes mix with other species of whales and can breed with blue whales (hybrid calves). They are commonly hunted by whalers. Their diet consists of krill, small fish, and crustaceans. They can be found in all oceans, usually in the deep, open ocean. They prefer cooler waters and are rarely found in tropics. They are thought to migrate between feeding and breeding grounds, however resident populations do exist in the Gulf of California/Mexico and the Mediterranean.

Arnoux's Beaked Whale

[Berardius arnuxii] Also known as Southern four-toothed whales. An unusual characteristic, they have two sets of front teeth in the lower jaw. This is found in both males and females and causes the front set of teeth to protrude from their closed mouths. They reach lengths of 9.3-9.75 meters, and their weight and lifespan is unknown. They are usually encountered in groups that range from 6 to 80 individuals, and can hold their breath for up to an hour. They live in the far south and feed on ocean floor and mid-water fish species as well as squid.

Andrew's Beaked Whale

[Mesoplodon bowdoini] Sometimes known as the deep-crest beaked whale or splay-toothed whale, is one of the most poorly known members of a poorly known genus. The species has never been observed in the wild, and is known only from specimens washed up on southern beaches. They can weigh 2- 3 tonnes and grow up to 4.5-5 meters. Their diet consists of deep water squid.

Pygmy Right Whale

[Caperea marginata] A member of the cetotheres, a family of baleen whales, which until 2012 were thought to be extinct. It was considered a close relative of the bowhead and northern right whale but has been reclassified to a family of its own, Neobalaenidae. It can grow up to 7 meters. Like the other right whales, it has relatively long and narrow baleen; but it also has a dorsal fin and possesses many unique skeletal features, such as a long rib cage with extremely flat, wide ribs. This uncommon species is found in temperate waters of the Southern Hemisphere. It has not been well studied, and its population is unknown.

Grey's Whale

[Eschrichtius robustus] A baleen whale that migrates between feeding and breeding grounds yearly. It reaches a length of around 14.9 meters, a weight of 36,000-45,000 kg, and lives between 55 and 70 years. They undergo long migrations in which they go to northern waters to feed and southern waters to breed. They are bottom feeders, consuming a wide range of benthic and epibenthic invertebrates. They hunt by rolling over on one side then swimming slowly along sucking up sediment and the small creatures that live in it. They then use their baleen to trap the food. Most gray whales turn on their right side to feed (but some are 'left-handed') and as a result, the baleen on the right side is usually shorter and more worn than the baleen on the left side, and the right side of the head is more scarred from rooting around on the bottom. They rarely go more than 20-30 kms offshore (most coastal of the large whales). They are found predominantly in shallow coastal waters of the north Pacific Ocean.

Southern Right Whale

[Eubalaena australis] Baleen whale that is one of three species classified as right whales belonging to the genus Eubalaena. Approximately 10,000 are spread throughout the southern part of the Southern Hemisphere. They are around 13-16 meters long, weigh 23,000 kg, and can live for 50 years, however data is scarce and there are reports of them living to 100 years. The characteristic calluses on their skin function like fingerprints, and identify each whale throughout its life. Calluses are elevated areas of skin (more than 5cm thick) on different parts of their heads. They are calm, curious and quite slow to swim (reaching maximum speeds of 9 to 11 km / h). To communicate they jump and splash their fins in the water.

North Atlantic Right Whale

[Eubalaena glacialis] Also known as tube whale, Biscayan right whale, Biscay whale, or black _____ whale. They are distinguishable from the Pacific variety by a slightly smaller size. They can grow up to 14-19 meters and weigh 70,000-106,000 kg. The shape, size and position of callosities on their heads are unique on each whale, and are used as identification. It is an extremely endangered species, with only about 400 still remaining. Climate change has shifted their migratory travels into areas of intense human activity, putting them at extreme risk, as they can collide with ships and become entangled in fishing gear as they spend a considerable amount of time near the water's surface. Their remaining habitat is in the western North Atlantic, along the eastern US and Canada, sometimes as north as Iceland/England. Since 2010, their summer feeding areas have shifted to Canada's Gulf of St. Lawrence while their new winter habitats remain unknown. The only known calving areas are in shallow, coastal waters in the southern parts of their range.

North Pacific Right Whale

[Eubalaena japonica] They are extremely rare and endangered. They live for around 70 years, are 13-15 meters long, and weigh 50,000-82,000 kg, with females being smaller. They are larger than the Atlantic variety. The have callosities on their heads that help differentiate them from bowheads. Known to breach, slap their flippers while rolling, and curiously poke/bump objects. They sometimes swim toward boats or allow boats to approach them. They have been known to use their tales as sails, sticking their tail flukes out of the water to catch the breeze. They eat shrimp and small fish. Only a few hundred remain, and there may be two separate populations, making counts even more uncertain. They are consistently seen spending summers in the southeastern Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska, but little is known what they do outside of this period, or where they go to breed.

Pygmy Sperm Whale

[Kogia breviceps] Also known as lesser cachalot, short-headed sperm whale, lesser sperm whale. They can be 3.5-3.8 meters long, and weigh 450 kg. The main differences between this and the other variety is the larger size and rounded snout. They are slow swimmers found alone or in groups of 6 or 7. When seen in the wild, they are usually seen logging; motionlessly floating on the surface. They breach occasionally and aren't comfortable in the presence of humans. They eject a reddish-brown cloud of intestinal fluid in the water as defense mechanism. Not vocal, but believed to use echolocation clicks for food location. Their diet consists of fish, octopus, crab and shrimp. They are rarely seen in the wild, and most of the information we have about pygmy sperm whales has been amassed from stranded individuals.

Dwarf Sperm Whale

[Kogia sima] Also known as Owen's pygmy sperm whale. They can be 2.8 meters long and weigh 272 kg. The main differences between this and the other variety is the smaller size and pointed snout, like a shark. They are found in groups of 10 or fewer. Slow swimmers, they can sometimes be spotted floating motionless on the surface of the water basking, called logging; it is suggested that they float lower than pygmy sperm whales. They don't approach boats but will sometimes tolerate their respectful presence. When submerging themselves, they (like pygmies) drift back under the water as slowly and quietly as they came. They only dive when startled, and on doing so will release a cloud of reddish-brown intestinal fluid, to throw attackers off. They eat deep-water squid, crustaceans, fish and octopus, as they usually swim in deep water.

Humpback Whale

[Megaptera novaeangliae] Also known as hunchbacked whale, hump whale, or bunch. whalebone whale with long flippers noted for arching or humping its back as it dives. They can grow to 17-18 meters long, and they can weigh 36,000 kg. Their flippers can grow up to 5 m long (a third of their body length), which is the largest appendage in the world. Their tails are also massive and grow up to (5.5 m) wide. Their tails are often used to identify different whales. They have bumps on their head called tubercles, which each contain a single hair. These hairs feed back information about the whales' surroundings, much like a cat's whiskers. Most populations undertake huge annual migrations, moving between mating and calving grounds in warmer, tropical waters, and feeding grounds in colder, more bountiful waters. Males are especially vocal during the mating season. They eat krill and small fish. They are found in all the world's major oceans.

Hubb's Beaked Whale

[Mesoplodon carlhubbsi] Also known as Arch-beaked whale. They can grow up to 5-5.5 meters and females can weigh around 1,500 kg. As there are relatively few confirmed sightings of this species there is little understanding of its behaviour. The scars on the male suggest that they may fight each other, perhaps in competition for females. They are thought to feed primarily on squid, although some smaller fish species may also be taken. This species of beaked whale appears to be limited in its distribution to the North Pacific. Sightings have been made in the eastern North Pacific, ranging from British Columbia to California, and also in the western North Pacific, off Japan although as a lover of deep sea habitat it is believed that their range stretches right across the North Pacific.

Blainville's Beaked Whale

[Mesoplodon densirostris] Their lower jaw curves sharply upwards., and the male's arch is topped with prominent tusks that point upwards past the upper jaw. These tusks are denser than elephant ivory, hence the additional name dense-beaked whale. They are highly attuned divers, and can enjoy sustained dives of up to nearly an hour in length. They eat squid, fish, and crustaceans, and live on coastal areas all around the globe (excluding poles). They have the most extensive distribution, are the most numerous and are the most tropical of any species of the genus Mesoplodon. They are believed to spend 80% of their lives in silence.

Gervais's Beaked Whale

[Mesoplodon europaeus] They can be 4.5-5.5 meters long, and females can weigh around 1,200 kg. Their colouring is dark blue on top, with juveniles have a white belly while adults often have irregular white blotches. They sport a slightly bulging forehead and a pronounced, narrow beak of medium length. Males have a single pair of teeth located a third of the way from the tip of the beak to the corner of the mouth, which are noticeable even when the mouth is closed. The females do not have these. Very little is known about Gervais' beaked whales due to a lack of sightings at sea. They are probably deep divers living in small groups or pairs far offshore. Back scars may suggest fighting. They are thought to feed primarily on squid, although some smaller fish species may also be taken. They prefer deep waters in both tropical and sub-tropical locations. Most reports come from the western side of the North Atlantic, with the majority coming from the Southwest North Atlantic. Off the coast of North America, it is the most frequently stranded of all beaked whales.

Ginko-Toothed Beaked Whale

[Mesoplodon ginkgodens] Also known as Japanese beaked whale. The shape of the male's teeth have a similar shape to the Japanese _____ tree, hence the name. There has never been a verified live sighting of one. They grow around 5.3 meters and females weigh around 1,840 kg. They have a robust body with less scars than other beaked whales. Colouration darkens immediately after death making it hard to determine the colour of live individuals, but it is believed that males are dark blue-black with white spots and blotches around the belly area, whereas females are mid-grey with paler bellies. The flippers are small, pointed, and narrow. Males have small white spots on their body which may be parasitic scars (cookie cutter shark bites). Almost nothing is known about their behaviour. They are thought to feed primarily on squid, although some smaller fish species may also be taken. Known only from very sparse strandings data, they are thought to be widely distributed in warm temperate and tropical waters of both the Indian and Pacific Ocean, with most records coming from Japan. Records from directed hunts and bycatch suggest that as with other beaked whales, they live in areas of deep water.

Hector's Beaked Whale

[Mesoplodon hectori] Also known as Skew-beaked whale or New Zealand beaked whale. They can grow up to 4-4.5 meters and females can weigh around 1,840 kg. One of the smallest of the beaked whales. With only one confirmed sighting of Hector's beaked whale (off western Australia) it is almost impossible to say anything definite about their behaviour. Some speculate they are naturally rare. They are thought to feed primarily on squid, although some smaller fish species may also be taken. They are thought to prefer the cool temperate waters of the southern hemisphere, and are found south of the Tropic of Capricorn. The majority of records of stranded individuals are from New Zealand, but there are also reports of whales found off the Falkland Islands, South Africa and South America. Despite no information regarding their presence in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean, it is believed that they also reside in these waters.

Deraniyagala's Beaked Whale

[Mesoplodon hotaula] This entire whale species is known from only seven dead whales that have stranded on remote tropical islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans over the past 50 years. They are small beaked whales growing up to less than 5m in length. The body is blue grey coloured and spindle shaped. Inside the mouth they have only one pair of large and unusually- shaped tusk like teeth. The flippers are short and narrow; they slot into 'flipper pockets' on their sides for streamlined diving. There do not appear to be numerous white tooth-rake scars on the body that are commonly found on other beaked whales. Most likely they eat deep water squid as other beaked whales do. It is thought that, like all beaked whales, they make long dives to hunt squid in deep water and spend little time at the surface.

Sperm Whale

[Physeter macrocephalus] Largest of the toothed whales and the largest toothed predator. It is the only living member of the genus Physeter and one of three extant species in the its family, along with the pygmy and dwarf variety of the genus Kogia. An adult weighs 35,000 - 159,000 kg and is around 12 meters long. They can live for 60 - 70 years.

Cuvier's Beaked Whale

[Ziphius cavirostris] They are also known as goosebeak whale, and are the only whale in the genus Ziphius. These whales hold the record for the deepest and longest dive for any mammal. They have flipper pockets, a special adaption for diving which allows them to tuck their flippers in and make their bodies super-streamlined. They suffer decompression sickness, or 'the bends', if they are frightened or panicked by man-made noise (especially intense military sonar noise) and surface too quickly. Mass strandings of have occurred in places around the world following naval sonar exercises. They also are one of the most widely distributed out of all the beaked whales. They can grow to 7 meters and weigh 3,000 kg.