Types of Whales

Whales are part of the animal family of cetaceans, mammals that include dolphins and porpoises. More than 80 species of cetaceans inhabit the world̵7;s oceans, delighting and awing those who view them in their natural habitats. Whales are found in both the Southern and Northern Hemispheres. However, populations of nearly all species remain depressed after 200 years of whaling. Whales can be divided into two broad groups: baleen, or filter feeders, and toothed whales.

  1. Blue Whale

    • The blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) is the largest animal on Earth. The largest recorded length for a blue whale is 110 feet, although most are 80-100 feet. Large individuals weigh 150-200 tons. The blue whale's heart is the size of a Volkswagen Beetle, and its stomach can hold one ton of krill, according to WWF, formerly known as the World Wildlife Fund. This baleen whale was at the brink of extinction in the 20th century. Numbers have improved some since the official end of commercial whaling in 1964. Blue whales can be found in both hemispheres, mainly in the Northeast Pacific, Atlantic, Antarctic and Indian oceans. The most recent estimate for numbers in the Southern Hemisphere is 2,300 and is increasing by 7 percent annually, according to the British Broadcasting Corp. No good estimates for the Northern Hemisphere exist.

    Humpback Whale

    • Megaptera novaeangliae is called the humpback whale because of its distinctive body shape and the way it dives into the water. Humpback whales range around 40-50 feet and are well known for their acrobatics and attention-grabbing behavior, which includes slapping the water with their large fins. Humpbacks are a type of baleen whale. Although whaling reduced their numbers, they have recovered well and are now one of the more abundant species. According to the BBC, there are now more than 30,000 in the Southern Hemisphere, 15,000 in the North Atlantic and 18,000 in the North Pacific.

    Sperm Whale

    • The sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) is the world's largest toothed mammal. Adults can grow up to about 67 feet and weigh about 60 tons. The sperm whale is easily recognizable, with a very large head and no dorsal fin. Sperm whales were hunted since the 17th century, according to BBC. Their oil once lit lamps in major U.S. and European cities. After WW II, 30,000 were caught by whalers annually. They have been protected since 1982, although Japan has a scientific permit to take up to 10 per year.

    Right whales

    • Right whales got their name in early whaling days, when they were the ̶0;right̶1; whales to hunt. This is because they are slow swimmers, were close to shore, and would float when killed. Three species of right whale exist. Two of these, the Northern Atlantic right whale, and the Northern Pacific right whale, are on the brink of extinction, numbering approximately 400 and 200 respectively. The Southern right whale, found in the Southern Hemisphere, has a population of about 8,000 to 10,000. Right whales have large, bulbous heads that host creatures such as barnacles, whale lice and parasitic worms.

    Other whale types

    • Other whale types include the beluga or white whale, an arctic whale around 15 feet in length; the fin whale, the second-largest animal in the world; the gray whale, found primarily in the North Pacific; the minke whale, a small baleen with a relatively healthy population; and the fast-swimming sei whale, 100 of which Japan is allowed to kill per year for scientific purposes.