Right whale
Right whales are a group of large marine mammals belonging to the family Balaenidae, which includes three species: the North Atlantic right whale, North Pacific right whale, and Southern right whale. Named by whalers for their slow swimming and buoyancy when killed, right whales are known for their distinctive baleen plates, which they use to filter-feed on tiny sea creatures like copepods and pteropods. These whales can grow significantly in size, with the North Pacific right whale being the largest, reaching lengths of up to 64 feet and weights of over 220,000 pounds.
Right whales inhabit both arctic and temperate waters, with specific species adapted to northern or southern environments. They have a long gestation period of 10 to 11 months, typically giving birth to one calf after migrating to breeding grounds. Historically, right whales were heavily hunted for their baleen and oil, leading to their current endangered status, particularly for the North Atlantic right whale, which is classified as critically endangered. Despite protection efforts, these majestic creatures face ongoing threats from human activities. Right whales are known to live for 30 to 70 years, highlighting their long life span in the ocean.
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Right whale
The right whale got its name from whale hunters, also known as whalers. They called this whale the "right" whale to hunt because it swims slowly, floats when it is killed, and has a large number of baleen plates and a lot of whale oil.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Balaenidae
Genus: Various (see below)
Species: Various (see below)
There are three species of right whales in the genus Eubalaena—the North Atlantic (Eubalaena glacialis), North Pacific (Eubalaena japonica), and Southern (Eubalaena australis). The Arctic Sea’s Greenland right whale (Balaena mysticetus) is sometimes considered a fourth species. They all have tail fins, two flippers, and large heads. The North Pacific right whale is the largest, growing to 45 to 64 feet (13 3/4 to 19 1/2 meters) and weighing up to 220,500 pounds (100,020 kilograms). The southern right whale is between 43 and 56 feet (13 and 17 meters) long and weighs up to 176,000 pounds (79,830 kilograms). The North Atlantic species is the smallest on average, measuring up to 52 feet (15 1/2 meters) and weighing up to 140,000 pounds (63,500 kilograms).
Right whales live in arctic and temperate waters. Some right whales live only in the north, while others live only in the south.
Right whales are baleen whales. That means they have baleen plates. These plates are strainers that sort out what is food and what is not food. When the whale closes its mouth the water is forced back out, but the food stays caught in the base of the baleen plates. Right whales feed by swimming into a large area of copepods and pteropods (tiny sea animals) with their mouths wide open. They bring in a lot of water and some food at one time. Their baleen plates may reach up to 8 feet (2 1/2 meters) long.
Mating season for right whales is in the early spring. The gestation period (duration of pregnancy) is between 10 and 11 months. The female gives birth to one calf after migrating long distances to breeding grounds. They do not reach reproductive age until after ten years.
Right whales were once hunted for their baleen plates and oil, but are now protected from being hunted. The International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) lists North Pacific right whales as endangered. North Atlantic right whales are critically endangered and considered one of the world’s most endangered whales.
Pygmy right whales (Caperea marginata) are no longer part of the Balaenidae family despite their name.
The life span of the right whale is at least 30 years and up to 70 years.
Bibliography
"North Atlantic Right Whale." NOAA Fisheries, 4 Apr. 2024, www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/north-atlantic-right-whale. Accessed 15 Apr. 2024.
"Right Whales." International Whaling Commission, iwc.int/about-whales/whale-species/right-whale. Accessed 15 Apr. 2024.
"Right Whales." National Geographic, www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/facts/right-whales. Accessed 15 Apr. 2024.