Other Whales

Gray Whale (Eschrichtius robustus):

• longest migration of any mammal in the world.
• they migrate from the Baja/Mexico to Alaska in the spring & return to the Baja in the winter.
• some are resident in local waters in the Pacific Northwest
• a healthy population in the Pacific Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean population is extinct.
• in 1994 they were removed from the US Endangered Species List with a population of over 20,000
Benthic feeders, they feed on the bottom of the ocean floor.
• slow moving animals, rather like grazing cattle.
• do not have a dorsal fin but rather a series of 6-12 "knuckles" along the dorsal ridge
adults may weigh up to 35 tonnes
• adults reach a maximum length of 40 ft (14 m)
• newborn calves are about 15 ft (5 m) long

Humpback Whales (Megaptera novaeangliae):

• has a small curved dorsal fin on a prominent hump on its back
• name means "giant wings", refers to their large front flippers that reach a length of 4m (15ft) one-third of it's entire body length.
• dark grey to black (top side), with a much lighter mottled black and white on the (under) side. This color pattern extends to the fluke.
• adult males measure 12-14m (48ft),
• adult females measure 13-15m (50ft).
• they weigh 22,680-36,287 kg (79,831lbs).
• they are known for their 'fluking' or 'sounding', showing of their tails
• found in all of the world's oceans, although they generally prefer near shore and near-island habitats for both feeding and breeding.
• feed on krill, small shrimp-like crustaceans, and various kinds of small fish.
• each whale eats up to 1361kg (2994lbs) of food a day.
• they mate during their winter migration to warmer waters off the Hawaiian Islands

Minke Whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata):

• pronounced "minky"
• distribution is global
• have the nickname 'stinky minky', known for their "bad breath" - you can sometimes smell them before you see them
• throat is pleated to allow it to expand when feeding (50-70 ventral grooves)
• feed on bait balls, large quantities of small schooling fish, most commonly herring
• sometimes lunge feed at the surface
• cooperatively feed with seals, birds, and other aquatic animals
this is the whale that is being hunted by Japan and Norway today (illegally)
• is the smallest baleen whale - maximum length of 30 ft (9.5 m)
• weigh up to 10 tonnes
• over 40 photo identified in local waters that appear to return each summer, and become resident,but generally are found alone