Whale Species

There are many subgroups and breakdowns of the main species of whales scientists have identified. All whales however are either Baleen or Toothed. Toothed whales are as the name suggests, those that have teeth and Baleen whales do not. Baleen whales have a filtering system that is built into their lower jaw area in order to consume food. They can graze through the water at low speeds and take in plenty of water and food. While Toothed Whales have teeth, they actually swallow their food whole instead of chewing it. They only use their teeth to tear off pieces of very large prey. The average whale lifespan can range from 20-200 years depending on the species and overall health.

• Blue Whale – Belonging to the baleen category and is the largest animal in the world measuring up to 100 feet and weighing around 200 tons, equivalent to the size of a Boeing 737 plane! Their tongues alone can weigh as much as an elephant. They feed primarily on crustaceans, krill and occasionally small squid. These whales mostly live their lives as individuals or sometimes travel with one other partner. Their average life span is 34 years old and their only natural predator is the Orca.
• Gray Whale – The type of whale people most easily identify with and are the most coastal of the baleen whales. To feed, they fill their vast mouths with mud from the sea bottom and filter it through their baleen to capture amphipods and other small animals which is unlike any other whale. They can grow an average of 36 feet long and weigh up to 35 tons. Their bodies are a mottled grey colour, marked with orange patches usually caused by parasitic whale lice and their heads often have area encrusted by barnacles.
• Fin Whale – The second largest mammal in the world next to the Blue Whale weighing up to 80 tons. They have a distinct ridge along their back behind the dorsal fin which is what inspired its name. Fin whales also have an unusual feature where the lower right jaw is bright white and the lower left jaw is black.
• Humpback Whale – One of the most recognised of all the types of whales because of their hump over the dorsal fin. They are part of the baleen whale family and range in size between 40-50 feet, weighing approximately 79,000 pounds. These whales usually stay in cold waters of the Antarctic in summer where they feed then migrate to more topical waters in winter.
• Minke Whale – The smallest of the baleen category, measuring no longer than 30 feet and weighing no more than 7 tons. When feeding, this whale takes in huge mouthfuls of water then uses its mouth to cash small fish and plankton in its bristly baleen. They are normally difficult to approach but some are curious. They are not as acrobatic as other whales but will breach occasionally.
• Narwhal Whale – This whale looks like a cross between a whale and a unicorn due to its long, spiralled tusk jutting from its head. Males generally all have tusks which can grow as long as 10 feet. Narwhals live in the Arctic waters of Canada, Greenland, Norway and Russia. This species relies on sea ice to exist and they are directly affected by climate change.
• North Atlantic Right Whale – These whales are easier to identify because of the white calluses on their heads standing out against their body’s dark grey colour. It does not have a dorsal fin and is part of the baleen whale family. Right whales are found mostly in coastal waters along the Atlantic of Northern America.
• Sperm Whale – The largest of the toothed whale species. When spotting this whale, people often think of the story of Moby Dick because of its resemblance. These whales have huge heads which are up to a third of its overall body length with the heaviest brain in the animal kingdom of up to 9kg. Their head also consists of a cavity large enough to park a car inside! These whales feed primarily on squid and sometimes octopus and fish including sharks.
• Beluga Whale – White in colour, this whale has a type of formation to the head that looks similar to a melon and is flexible and capable of changing shape which can give them many different facial expressions. Belugas are extremely social and only travel in groups that range from a couple to hundreds of other whales. They migrate as the sea ice changes in the Artic. Their diet consists of different fish species including salmon, herring, shrimp and crabs. Similar to the Narwhal, they depend on sea ice and directly impact from climate change.
• Bowhead Whale – Predominantly an Arctic species and its movement patterns are influenced by the melting and freezing of ice. These whales are capable of breaking through sea ice that’s seven inches thick with their large skulls and powerful bodies. Their bodies are mostly black in colour except the front part of their lower jaw which is white. They are one of the only species that can leap entirely out of the water.
• Orca Whale – Also known as the Killer Whale due to their fierce predatory style. These animals are highly intelligent and social, always travelling in groups called pods. Although orcas are found in all oceans and most seas, they prefer colder waters and are more predominant in the Pacific Basin.