Bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus) are the only large whale sendemic to the Arctic. They are one of the longest-lived mammals, with individuals living up to 200 years. They have the thickets blubber and longest baleen of any large whale. They are also the only whales that are capable of breaking through ice to breathe which they do by using their head. Their head can account for up to one-third of their total body length and contains up to 600 baleen plates that are used to filter small crustaceans, such as copepods, from the water.
Bowhead whales were extensively hunted for their blubber and baleen beginning in the 1500s into the very early 1900s, which greatly reduced their population sizes everywhere. However, international hunting bans implemented in the 1930s and 1940s have allowed the bowhead whale population to recover, although their numbers remain much lower than their pre-whaling levels. Today, they are still considered an endangered species, and their population is closely monitored.
There are four currently recognized populations:
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Fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) are the second-largest whale species in the world, after the blue whale. They are found in all of the world's oceans and are known for their streamlined bodies, long, pointed fins, and asymmetrical coloration, with a lighter underside and a darker back.
Fin whales can grow up to 27 meters (88 feet) in length and weigh up to 74 tons. They are fast swimmers that have sometimes been called 'greyhounds of the sea' and can reach speeds of up to 37 km/h (23 mph). They are also known for their vocalizations, which include a series of low-frequency pulses that can be heard over long distances.
Fin whales are baleen whales, which means that they filter their food through long, comb-like structures called baleen plates. They primarily feed on small, shrimp-like creatures called krill, but they also consume other small fish and squid.
Click here to listen to a Fin Whale:
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Blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus) are the largest animals on Earth. They are found in all of the world's oceans and are known for their enormous size, streamlined bodies, and bluish-gray coloration.
Blue whales can grow up to 30 meters (98 feet) in length and weigh up to 200 tons. They are also known for their vocalizations, which include low-frequency moans, pulses, and songs that can be heard over long distances. Blue whale songs vary by location and over a dozen different "acosutic populations" have been identified glbally.
Blue whales are baleen whales, which means that they filter their food through long, comb-like structures called baleen plates. They primarily feed on krill, which they consume in enormous quantities. It is estimated that a single blue whale can consume up to 4 tons of krill per day.
Like many other whale species, blue whales were extensively hunted for their blubber and meet in the 20th century, which greatly reduced their population size. International whaling bans implemented in the 1960s have allowed some blue whale populations to recover, although their numbers remain much lower than their pre-whaling levels. Today, they are still considered an endangered species
. Click here to listen to the Blue Whale:
Image by NOAA Fisheries
Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) are baleen whale found in all of the world's oceans. They are known for their long, flippers, which can reach up to one-third of their body length, as well as their distinctive songs and acrobatic displays, such as breaching and tail slapping. Humpback whales can grow up to 16 meters (52 feet) in length and weigh up to 36,000 kg (40 tons). They are baleen whales, which means they filter their food from gulping large volumes of water. They primarily feed on small schooling fish, and zooplankton like krill.They are incredible migrators, traveling up to 5,000 miles annually from their feedings grounds of higher latitudes to their mating and calving grounds in warmer, tropical waters.
Humpback whales were extensively hunted in the 19th and early 20th centuries, which greatly reduced their population size. However, international whaling bans implemented in the 1960s and 1970s have allowed many humpback whale populations to recover, although their numbers remain lower than their pre-whaling levels. Today, they are considered a species of least concern, but some populations, such as those found in the North Pacific, are still threatened by human activities, such as entanglement in fishing gear, habitat loss, and climate change.
Humpback whales are known for their complex vocalizations, which include a range of moans, groans, and songs. Their songs can last for up to 30 minutes and are composed of a series of repeating phrases. Male humpback whales are known for their acrobatic displays, which they use to attract females during mating season. Click here to listen to the humpback:
Image by NOAA Fisheries
Gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus) are a baleen whale found in the eastern and western North Pacific Ocean. They are known for their mottled gray coloration, which is covered in patches of white barnacles and whale lice. Gray whales can grow up to 14.9 meters (49 feet) in length and weigh up to 36,000 kg (40 tons). They are baleen whales, which means they filter their food through baleen plates which in gray whales are short and coarse. They primarily feed on bottom-dwelling crustaceans, such as amphipods and small shrimp.
Gray whales were extensively hunted in the 19th and early 20th centuries, which greatly reduced their population size. However, after being protected from hunting the eastern North Pacific population is considered to be back to pre-exploitation levels. Today, the eastern North Pacific population of gray whales is considered to be of least concern, but the western North Pacific population is critically endangered.
Gray whales are known for their long migrations, which can cover up to 20,000 km (12,400 miles) each year. They breed in warm, shallow lagoons off the coast of Baja California, Mexico, and then migrate to feeding grounds in the Bering adn Chukchi Seas during the summer months.
To listen to a gray whale, click here:
Image by NOAA Fisheries
Walruses (Odobenus rosmarus) are large pinnipeds found in the Arctic Ocean and sub-Arctic regions. They are known for their distinctive tusks, which are elongated canine teeth that can grow up to one meter (3 feet) in length. Walruses are also known for their large size and dense bones and gregarious social structure. There are two subspecies of walrus: the Atlantic walrus and the Pacific walrus. Atlantic walruses are found in the coastal waters of the Arctic Ocean and adjacent seas, while Pacific walruses are found in the Bering Sea and Chukchi Sea.
Walruses primarily feed on clams, mussels, and other invertebrates that live on the ocean floor. They use their sensitive whiskers, called vibrissae, to locate their prey and their powerful tusks to dig through the sediment to reach it. Click here to listen to a walrus.
Killer whales (Orcinus orca), also known as orcas, are the largest members of the dolphin family and one of the most widely distributed marine mammals in the world. They are found in all of the world's oceans, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Killer whales have a distinctive black and white coloration and males have a very large distinctive dorsal fin. They can grow up to 10 meters (33 feet) in length and weigh up to 10,000 kg (22,000 pounds). They are apex predators, feeding on a variety of prey, including fish, squid, seals, sea lions, dolphins, and even other whales.
Killer whales are highly social and live in complex social groups called pods. Pods can consist of up to 40 individuals and are often composed of related females and their offspring. Male killer whales may also join pods temporarily during mating season. There are numerous ecotypes of killer whales identified based on morphology and diet with specialists that eat marine mammals, or fish and even sharks. Killer whales are known for their intelligence and complex vocalizations, which can vary by population. Different populations of killer whales have distinct dialects and may have different hunting strategies and prey preferences.
Click here to listen to a killer whale.
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Bearded seals (Erignathus barbatus) are a large species of seal found in the Arctic Ocean and adjacent seas. They are named for their distinctive "beard" of long, white whiskers on their muzzle, which they use to navigate and locate prey in dark, murky waters. Bearded seals can grow up to 2.4 meters (8 feet) in length and weigh up to 400 kg (880 pounds). They are one of the largest Arctic seal species and are blubbery, with a thick layer of insulation that helps them to survive in the frigid Arctic environment. Bearded seals feed primarily on bottom-dwelling organisms, such as clams, mussels, and other invertebrates. They are also known to eat fish, squid, and other small marine animals.Bearded seals are important prey species for polar bears and are also hunted by indigenous communities for their meat and hides which are used to make skin boats.
These seals are extremely vocal, and are the most common creature that we hear year-round. Click here to listen to a bearded seal.
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