Species: Balaenoptera acutorostrata
Common Minke Whale
Species
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Encyclopedia of Puget Sound
Articles:
Minke whales are the most abundant baleen whale species worldwide. In the waters of the west coast of North America, their populations have remained small, but stable over time. They are hunted by transient killer whales due to their relatively small size compared with other baleen whales. Sighting rates for minke whales in the Salish Sea are highest during the summer, however, little is known about where minke whales spend the winter months.
A resident population of minke whales is catching the attention of scientists who want to learn if the elusive mammals are found here year-round. While small compared to their cousins the blue whales, minkes are still among the largest creatures in the Salish Sea.
Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Craniata
Class
Mammalia
Order
Cetacea
Family
Balaenopteridae
Genus
Balaenoptera
NatureServe
Classification
Informal Taxonomy
Animals, Vertebrates - Mammals - Whales and Dolphins
Formal Taxonomy
Animalia - Craniata - Mammalia - Cetacea - Balaenopteridae - Balaenoptera - includes the unnamed dwarf minke whale of the Southern Hemisphere.
Ecology and Life History
Habitat Type Description
Marine
Migration
true - true - true - Many populations migrate to high latitude waters for summer, to low latitude waters for winter.
Non-migrant
true
Locally Migrant
true
Food Comments
Diet mostly fishes in North Pacific, krill in southern ocean, fishes (mainly) and krill in North Atlantic (IUCN 1991); fishes eaten are small, schooling species.
Reproduction Comments
Gestation lasts 10-11 months. Single calf is born November-March in North Atlantic, mainly late May and early June in Southern Hemisphere. Young are weaned in 6 months or less. Adult females produce one calf every 1-2 years. Most sources give the age of sexual maturity as 6-7 years or 7-8 years, but 2 years or mean of 6-15 years also has been reported; age of maturity apparently decreases when populations are significantly reduced. Maximum age is about 30-40 years in the North Atlantic, something less than 50 years in the Southern Hemisphere.
Ecology Comments
Usually solitary, sometimes found in groups of 2-3. Annual survival rate in Antarctic exceeds 90% (IUCN 1991). Common prey for orca (killer whale).
Length
9100
Conservation Status
NatureServe Global Status Rank
G5
Global Status Last Reviewed
2006-03-28
Global Status Last Changed
1996-11-15
Distribution
Conservation Status Map
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Global Range
Throughout the world's oceans in tropical, temperate, and polar waters, including Hudson Bay (Can. Field-Nat. 106:266-267). See IUCN (1991) for further details. IWC stock management units have little or no biological significance (IUCN 1991).