Fin Whale is the second largest mammal in the world after the Blue Whale. It is known by various other names including Finback Whale, Razorback Whale and Common Rorqual. It belongs to the group of baleen whales.
They can be found in all the oceans of the world. They are usually solitary creatures but live in groups of 3-7 members sometimes. These groups are known as pods. Larger pods can also be seen but only during migration.
Quick Facts: –
- Fin Whales open their mouth to swallow huge amounts of water and then closes the mouth and forces the water back out through its baleens.
- These whales generally feed upon crustaceans, krill, squid and fish.
- They use this method to catch their prey. They trap the prey like a sieve.
- They can be easily distinguished as they have a distinct ridge along their back behind the dorsal fin.
- They have a very unusual feature as the lower right jaw is bright white and the lower left jaw is black.
- Currently, there are about 2,700 fin whales in the North Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico and about 3,200 in the eastern Pacific Ocean.
- Fin whales have long, slender bodies that can grow up to a whopping 80 feet in length.
- They are fast swimmer and can sustain speeds of around 35 kilometers per hour.
- These whales give birth once in every 3 to 4 years and the gestation period lasts close to one full year.
- Their calf measures about 6 meters in length and weighs between 2 to 3 tons.
- The average life span of Fin Whales in the wild is 90 years.
