5 Whale Species You Might've Not Heard Of.
- bioworld090
- Sep 20, 2022
- 2 min read
Updated: Feb 27, 2023
BOWHEAD WHALE
Image Credit: nuestromar.org
Bowhead whales(Balaena mysticetus) are the only living whales of the genus Balaena. The name, as it suggests, is due to the shape of their head. They have a massive triangular skull and they use it to break through the Arctic ice. They are the longest living mammals and according to CSIRO, their maximum lifespan is 268 years. They are the longest-living mammals and have the biggest mouth(source) and thickest blubber(40-50 cm) in the animal kingdom.
FIN WHALE
Image Credit: Photo by Aqqa Rosing-Asvid
Fin whales(Balaenoptera physalus) are the second largest animals on the planet, growing up to a size of 26m and having a maximum weight of 114 tonnes. The other names of these animals include common rorquals and herring whales.
They are also known as "razorback whales" because of a ridge that runs from their dorsal fin to their tail. The other nickname for these animals is “greyhound of the sea” because they are long, slender and fast like a greyhound. They are one of the fastest swimming whales among the “great whales” reaching speeds of over 46km/h.
NARWHAL
Narwhals(Monodon monoceros) are toothed whales that are unlike any other whales. They are neither giants like blue whales nor small like dwarf sperm whales. So, what makes narwhals unique? Their tusk. A tusk that protrudes from their mouth, grows throughout their lives and can measure as much as 10ft in length. Usually, only the left canine tooth protrudes as the tusk but sometimes, on rare occasions, both, the right and the left canine can become a tusk.
DWARF SPERM WHALE
Image Credit: Wikipedia
Dwarf Sperm whales(Kogia sima) are the smallest toothed whales with a length of just 9 feet and an average weight of 400 to 600 pounds. These whales are small, slow and primarily solitary. Dwarf sperm whales have only one blowhole as they are toothed whales.
One of the fascinating things about these whales is their defence mechanism. Their defence mechanism involves the release of dark ink just like an octopus or a squid. Upon release in water, the reddish-brown ink creates a dark cloud that helps them escape the danger.
SEI WHALE
Image Credit: Boing Boing
Sei whales(Balaenoptera borealis), pronounced as “say” whales, are the third largest baleen whales after blue and fin whales. They are primarily found in most oceans and seas but rarely found in or avoid polar and tropical waters. They measure 13-20 meters in length and weigh as much as 28 tons.
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