What does a gray whale look like?

Appearance:

- Color: Dark gray overall, with lighter patches on the belly, especially in summer.

- Length: Approximately 35 to 49 feet (10.7 to 15 meters) long, on average.

- Weight: Around 20 to 35 tons (18 to 32 metric tons), on average.

- Body shape: Streamlined and muscular, with a relatively robust build.

- Head: Medium-sized and somewhat rounded, with a distinctive 'V'-shaped blowhole.

- Eyes: Small and located on the sides of the head.

- Fins: A single dorsal fin located about two-thirds of the way along the back, as well as two large and broad flippers on the sides of the body.

Additional Features:

- Blow: A relatively short and bushy blow, often appearing as a broad mist rather than a tall spout.

- Skin: Thick, leathery, and covered in barnacles and other marine life.

- Baleen plates: Instead of teeth, gray whales have baleen plates inside their mouths, which they use to filter-feed on small organisms.