The common minke whale, balaenoptera acutorostrata, is the smallest of the rorqual whales. They measure 22 to 35 feet (6.7 to 10.7 meters) long and weigh 16,000 to 26,000 pounds (8 to 13 tons), with females being slightly larger than males. Their bodies are dark on top, with a white underbelly. A white band can often be found on the flippers of these mammals. Their tails extend into 2 long tips and their dorsal fins are high and curved back. Up close, they are shown to have variable ‘smoky’ patterns, which can be used to photo-identify individuals.
The common minke whale can be found in all of the world’s oceans (both arctic and tropical). Although they are not coastal creatures, they will rarely travel farther than 184,820 yards (169 kilometers) from land. They are known to travel farther into polar ice fields than other rorqual species and will commonly enter estuaries, fjords, bays and lagoons. Despite being a mostly solitary creature, they can often be seen feeding in pairs. Up to 100 individuals may even come together if the feeding grounds are especially good. They are surprisingly agile creatures, and are able to leap completely out of the water (like a dolphin). Some populations are migratory, migrating to warmer waters during the colder months.
The diet of the common minke whale consists of fish and various vertebrates. They will swim with their mouths open, bringing both food and water inside. The water is then filtered out of the mouth with the help of their baleen plates, which act like sieves. Whatever remains in the mouth is then swallowed and digested. A common technique used by these whales to catch prey is to trap shoals of fish along the surface of the water.
Breeding season for the common minke whale takes place from December to May for those living in the Atlantic, while Pacific populations will breed at any time of the year. Females will give birth to a single offspring (called a calf) after a gestation period of 10 to 11 months. The calf is weaned at around 4 or 5 months of age, but will remain with its mother for up to 2 years before setting off on its own. Calves will not become sexually mature until they are 6 or 7 years old and females only give birth every other year. If the young ones can survive long enough, then they can live to be up to 50 years old.
The common minke whale is not an endangered species. They still face potentially dangerous threats however, such as pollution, climate change, a reduction in their food supply, overhunting and death by accidental entanglement. Hopefully, the common minke whale can continue its peaceful coexistence with humans and avoid facing the threat of extinction. After all, such a unique minke whale deserves to live and prosper for future generations to see.
Works Cited
“Common Minke Whale (Balaenoptera Acutorostrata)” 8 January 2012
“Balaenoptera Acutorastrata” 8 January 2012