Northern Right Whale
Small concentrations of the Northern Right Whale can be found in the North Pacific and the North Atlantic. As the name suggests, this species is only found in the Northern Hemisphere.
Classification: The Northern Right Whale was classified along with the closely-related Southern Right Whale under the genus Eubalaena, which literally means 'right whale', referring to the belief that these were the 'right' whales to kill.
Local Names: Black Right Whale; Biscayan Right Whale.
Description: The Northern Right Whale is similar is shape to the Bowhead, being large and stocky, but slightly smaller. They are generally the larger of the two Right Whale species, with females being slightly larger than males. They are blue-black to light brown in colour, with white markings, although some albinos and near-albinos have been recorded. The Right Whales' most noticeable feature is the horny growth of 'callosities' on and around the head (primarily near the blowhole, around the rostrum, above the eyes and on the jaw), which can be seen on the picture below. Northern Right Whales measure between 13.5-17m, and weigh in the region of 40-80 tonnes. Their baleen is long and narrow, with a maximum length of 3m and around 400-540 plates per animal.
Recognition at sea: The Northern Right Whale may be confused with the Bowhead Whale, which is similar in both size and shape and shares the same V-shaped blow. However, the Northern Right Whale is easily distinguishable from its callosities, which are absent in the Bowhead Whale.
Habitat: Both species of Right Whale can be found in polar waters, but in summer they are normally located in temperate and subpolar seas. Calving seems to occur in shallow bays near to the coast, although there is insufficient evidence for this in some areas.
Food & Feeding: Northern Right Whales usually feed below the surface, occasionally near to the seabed, on concentrations of copepods. Surface feeding has also been observed.
Behaviour: Right Whales are, despite their massive bulk, incredibly active cetaceans, with breaching, lob-tailling and flipper-slapping all relatively common. A particular favourite is 'sailing', where the whale hangs vertically upside-down in the water, 'standing' on its head, with its tail flukes in the air. They communicate through 'moans' and 'burping' noises.
Longevity: Unknown.
Estimated Current Population: < 1,000 animals (Northern Atlantic population < 300 animals). The most endangered 'great' whale, with full species extinction expected within 190 years.
The Influence of Man: Both species of Right Whales were the first large cetaceans to be commercially hunted by man, possibly as early as the 10th Century. In the nineteenth century alone, over 100,000 whales were slaughtered, and, although having been granted protection in 1935, it is doubtful that this species will ever recover.
Source: CETACEA
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