The Beluga Whale's Natural Habitat

Beluga whales are easily recognizable by their white skin. Unlike other whales they do not have a dorsal fin. They have rounded, broad heads with large foreheads. The beluga whale's fins are paddle shaped, and their tails have notches. Males grow to 15 feet in length, while females grow to approximately 14 feet in length. Females weigh up to 2,000 lbs. and males up to 3,000 lbs.

  1. Habitat

    • The predominant habitat of the beluga whale is the arctic and subarctic where the waters are icy cold, sometimes as cold as minus 32 degrees F. They like to swim through the ice floes and icebergs. Beluga whales often remain in coastal waters, sometimes so shallow their bodies are barely covered. They also swim in deeper waters. Many beluga populations live in river basins and warm-water estuaries in the summer. According to Sea World, research shows that belugas adapt well to both warm freshwater and cold ocean water.

    Distribution

    • Beluga, or white, whales inhabit the arctic and subarctic, including the Arctic Ocean and adjoining seas, Sea of Okhotsk, Gulf of Alaska, Baffin Bay, Hudson Bay, Gulf of St. Lawrence, the Beaufort Sea and the Bering Sea. They have also been seen 600 miles up the Yukon River of Canada and 1,240 miles up the Amur River of Russia, at specific times of the year. Beluga whales have also been found in the St. Lawrence River of Canada.

    Adaptations

    • Beluga whales have special adaptations that allow them to thrive in their natural habitat. One of these adaptations is the ability to slow their heart rate when they are diving. This allows them to conserve oxygen. Beluga whales, similar to all whales, have the ability to store most of their body fat in the blubber that exists beneath the skin. The blubber accounts for more than 40 percent of the whale's weight. It offers streamlining and insulation and works as an energy reserve, all vital for surviving in their natural habitat.

    Food Sources in Habitat

    • Beluga whales eat a variety of fish species including salmon, eulachon, smelt, char, tomcod, rainbow sole, arctic and saffron cod, herring, mussels, octopus, shrimp and whitefish. Their diets are based upon what is available in their existing habitat.

    Threats to the Beluga Whale

    • The two main predators of the beluga whale are the killer whale and humans. The biggest threat to beluga whales is human hunting. Beluga whales are also vulnerable to human pollution. Shipping vessel traffic, noise, disease and strandings also threaten beluga whales. Changes in climate due to global warming may also force beluga whales to adapt to different habitats.