163-486: The southern right whale ( Eubalaena australis ) is a baleen whale , one of three species classified as right whales belonging to the genus Eubalaena . Southern right whales inhabit oceans south of the Equator, between the latitudes of 20° and 60° south. In 2009 the global population was estimated to be approximately 13,600. Right whales were first classified in the genus Balaena in 1758 by Carl Linnaeus , who at
326-475: A clade of even-toed ungulates (Artiodactyla). Baleen whales split from toothed whales (Odontoceti) around 34 million years ago . Baleen whales range in size from the 6 m (20 ft) and 3,000 kg (6,600 lb) pygmy right whale to the 31 m (102 ft) and 190 t (210 short tons) blue whale , the largest known animal to have ever existed. They are sexually dimorphic . Baleen whales can have streamlined or large bodies, depending on
489-461: A 2012 New England Aquarium report, 85 percent of the whales have had rope entanglement at least one time and it is the leading cause of death. A whale that survives an entanglement episode may be weakened, have reduced fertility, or become vulnerable to further injury. Because whales often free themselves of gear following an entanglement event, scarring may be a better indicator of fisheries interaction than entanglement sightings. A 2012 analysis of
652-479: A V-shaped blow. They are surrounded by a fleshy ridge that keeps water away while the whale breathes. The septum that separates the blowholes has two plugs attached to it, making the blowholes water-tight while the whale dives. Like other mammals, the skin of baleen whales has an epidermis , a dermis , a hypodermis , and connective tissue . The epidermis, the pigmented layer, is 5 millimeters (0.2 in) thick, along with connective tissue. The epidermis itself
815-585: A centre for whale watching. During the Southern Hemisphere winter months (June – October) the southern right whales migrate to the coastal waters of South Africa, with more than 100 whales known to visit the Hermanus area. Whilst in the area, the whales can be seen with their young as they come to Walker Bay to calve and mate. Many behaviours such as breaching, sailing, lobtailing, or spyhopping can be witnessed. In False Bay whales can be seen from
978-492: A climate shift. Though zooplankton abundance began to rise again in 1999, right whales have such a long reproduction and migratory cycle that the population was greatly affected by the minimal food availability from the year before. In 1999, only one right whale calf was born, compared to the 21 that were born in 1996, before the climate shift. In 2001, after the zooplankton populations greatly recovered, 30 calves were born. Zooplankton abundance has been found to be associated with
1141-512: A female was seen to accompany a lone humpback whale calf although the actual relationship of this pair is unclear. Southern right whales display strong maternal fidelity to their calving grounds. Calving females are known to return to calving grounds at 3-year intervals. The most commonly observed calving interval is 3 years, but intervals can range from 2 to 21 years. Calving takes place between June and November in calving grounds between 20 and 30° S. In Australia, southern right whales have shown
1304-498: A few deaths. It was calculated that preventing the deaths of just two females per year would enable the population to stabilize. The data suggests, therefore, that human sources of mortality may have a greater effect relative to population growth rates of North Atlantic right whales than for other whales. The principal factors known to be retarding growth and recovery of the population are ship strikes and entanglement with fishing gear . The single greatest danger to this species
1467-437: A fiber-reinforced structure made of intermediate filaments (proteins). The degree of calcification varies between species, with the sei whale having 14.5% hydroxyapatite , a mineral that coats teeth and bones, whereas minke whales have 1–4% hydroxyapatite. In most mammals, keratin structures, such as wool , air-dry, but aquatic whales rely on calcium salts to form on the plates to stiffen them. Baleen plates are attached to
1630-422: A high probability that North Atlantic right whales would go extinct within 200 years if the then-existing anthropogenic mortality rate was not curtailed. The combined factors of small population size and low annual reproductive rate of right whales mean that a single death represents a significant increase in mortality rate. Conversely, significant reduction in the mortality rate can be obtained by preventing just
1793-425: A large amount of water and sieve the slow-moving prey. Males typically mate with more than one female ( polygyny ), although the degree of polygyny varies with the species. Male strategies for reproductive success vary between performing ritual displays ( whale song ) or lek mating . Calves are typically born in the winter and spring months and females bear all the responsibility for raising them. Mothers fast for
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#17327726667241956-504: A layer of fat, or blubber , under the skin to keep warm in the cold water. Although baleen whales are widespread, most species prefer the colder waters of the Arctic and Antarctic . Gray whales are specialized for feeding on bottom-dwelling crustaceans . Rorquals are specialized at lunge-feeding, and have a streamlined body to reduce drag while accelerating. Right whales skim-feed, meaning they use their enlarged head to effectively take in
2119-468: A lunge-feeding behavior. Lunge-feeding is where a whale rams a bait ball (a swarm of small fish ) at high speed. Rorquals generally have streamlined physiques to reduce drag in the water while doing this. Balaenids rely on their huge heads, as opposed to the rorquals' throat pleats, to feed effectively. This feeding behavior allows them to grow very big and bulky, without the necessity for a streamlined body. They have callosities , unlike other whales, with
2282-777: A node branches off is analogous to an evolutionary branching – the diagram can be read left-to-right, much like a timeline. The following cladogram of the family Balaenidae serves to illustrate the current scientific consensus as to the relationships between the southern right whale and the other members of its family. E. glacialis North Atlantic right whale E. japonica North Pacific right whale E. australis southern right whale B. mysticetus bowhead whale Other junior synonyms for E. australis have included B. antarctica (Lesson, 1828), B. antipodarum (Gray, 1843), Hunterus temminckii (Gray, 1864), and E. glacialis australis (Tomilin, 1962) (see side panel for more synonyms). Like other right whales,
2445-602: A preference for calving grounds along coastlines with high wave energy, such as the Head of the Bight . Here, the sound of breaking waves may mask the sound of the whales' presence, and so protect infants and calving cows from predators such as killer whales . Deep waters alongside shallower calving grounds may serve as training grounds for calves to build up their stamina ahead of migration. Females give birth to their first calf when they are between eight and ten years old. A single calf
2608-526: A quarter of its total body length, narrow tail stock in comparison to its wide fluke, and v-shaped blowhole which produces a heart-shaped blow. The most distinguishing feature for right whales is their callosities , rough, white patches of keratinized skin found on their heads. The right whale's callosities provide habitat for large colonies of cyamids or whale lice , which feed on the right whale's skin as these small crustaceans cannot survive in open water. The relationship between cyamids and right whales
2771-560: A range stretching from Massachusetts to Newfoundland . Particularly popular feeding areas are the Bay of Fundy , the Gulf of Maine and Cape Cod Bay . In winter, they head south towards Georgia and Florida to give birth. According to census of individual whales identified using photo-identification techniques, the latest available stock assessment data (August 2012) indicates that a minimum of 396 recognized individuals were known to be alive in
2934-456: A record number of births among the western North Atlantic population. 39 new calves were recorded, born off the Atlantic coast of Florida and Georgia: "Right whales, for the first time in a long time, are doing their part: they're having the babies; they're having record numbers of babies. We need to be vigilant and still do our part to prevent the whales from being killed." In contrast, 2012
3097-566: A relatively long period of time over the period of migration, which varies between species. Baleen whales produce a number of infrasonic vocalizations , notably the songs of the humpback whale . The meat, blubber, baleen, and oil of baleen whales have traditionally been used by the indigenous peoples of the Arctic . Once relentlessly hunted by commercial industries for these products, cetaceans are now protected by international law. These protections have allowed their numbers to recover. However,
3260-444: A relatively small brain compared to their body mass . Like other mammals, their brain has a large, folded cerebrum , the part of the brain responsible for memory and processing sensory information. Their cerebrum only makes up about 68% of their brain's weight, as opposed to human's 83%. The cerebellum , the part of the brain responsible for balance and coordination, makes up 18% of their brain's weight, compared to 10% in humans, which
3423-853: A renowned whale researcher. Southern right whales have been spotted in very small numbers off Mozambique and Madagascar. Whales were historically seen in large numbers at various locations such as off the coast of Durban , in Delagoa/Maputo Bay , Inhaca Island , Ponta do Ouro , and around the Bazaruto Archipelago . The first sighting off Mozambique since the end of whaling was in 1997. In recent years, more whales seem to migrate further north to calve, such as at Île Sainte-Marie , Antongil Bay , Fort Dauphin Toliara , Anakao , Andavadoaka , and Antsiranana Bay , at Madagascar's northern tip. Infrequent sightings have been confirmed off
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#17327726667243586-400: A right whale (although he mainly hunted bowhead whales off eastern Greenland, outside the normal range of right whales). Based on back calculations using the present population size and growth rate, the population may have numbered fewer than 100 individuals by 1935. As it became clear that hunting right whales was unsustainable, international protection for right whales came into effect, as
3749-482: A scenic flight over the marine park. A more accessible South Australian location for viewing whales is Encounter Bay where the whales can be seen just off the beaches of the Fleurieu Peninsula , centred around the surfing town of Middleton . The whales have established a newer nursery-ground near Eyre Peninsula , especially at Fowlers Bay . Numbers are much smaller at these locations compared to those in
3912-619: A second split, into the northern and southern groups, preventing them from interbreeding. In 2002, the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) accepted Rosenbaum's findings, and recommended that the Eubalaena nomenclature be retained for this genus. The cladogram is a tool for visualising and comparing the evolutionary relationships between taxa . The point where
4075-485: A sensory organ located in the middle of the jaw to regulate these functions. Baleen whales have two flippers on the front, near the head. Like all mammals, baleen whales breathe air and must surface periodically to do so. Their nostrils, or blowholes , are situated at the top of the cranium . Baleen whales have two blowholes, as opposed to toothed whales which have one. These paired blowholes are longitudinal slits that converge anteriorly and widen posteriorly, which causes
4238-455: A single species, Balaena mysticetus . The southern right whale was initially described as Balaena australis by Desmoulins in 1822. Eventually, it was recognised that bowheads and right whales were different, and John Edward Gray proposed the genus Eubalaena for the right whale in 1864. Later, morphological factors such as differences in the skull shape of northern and southern right whales indicated at least two species of right whale—one in
4401-423: A single species. Because of their docile nature, their slow surface-skimming feeding behaviors, their tendencies to stay close to the coast, and their high blubber content (which makes them float when they are killed, and which produces high yields of whale oil ), right whales were once a preferred target for whalers . At present, they are among the most endangered whales in the world, and they are protected under
4564-533: A southern suburb of Adelaide, and remained in the shallows off the beach for some time, attracting large crowds. Whale numbers are scarcer in Victoria , where the only established breeding ground which whales use each year, in very small numbers, is at Warrnambool . However, as the whales do seem to be increasing in number generally, but not showing any dramatic increases at Warrnambool, they may be extending their wintering habitats into other areas of Victoria, where
4727-439: A spherical lens. The retina is surrounded by a reflective layer of cells ( tapetum lucidum ), which bounces light back at the retina, enhancing eyesight in dark areas. However, light is bent more near the surface of the eye when in air as opposed to water; consequently, they can see much better in the air than in the water. The eyeballs are protected by a thick outer layer to prevent abrasions and an oily fluid (instead of tears) on
4890-465: A total of 61 confirmed reports of entanglements, including the aforementioned mortalities. It is likely that official figures underestimate the actual impacts of entanglement. Entanglement is stressful on the animal, and repeated entanglement can lead to depleted blubber reserves. It is believed that chronically entangled animals may in fact sink upon death due to loss of buoyancy from depleted blubber reserves, and therefore escape detection. According to
5053-464: A total population reaching into the low teens at most—scientists believe that they may already be functionally extinct . Vessel strikes and entanglement in fixed fishing gear , which together account for nearly half of all North Atlantic right whale mortality since 1970, are their two greatest threats to recovery. Like other right whales , the North Atlantic right whale, also known as
Southern right whale - Misplaced Pages Continue
5216-644: A translation error in early copies of Aristotle 's Historia Animalium (in Ancient Greek ), in which " ὁ μῦς τὸ κῆτος " ( ho mus to kētos , "the mouse, the whale so called") was mistakenly translated as " ὁ μυστικῆτος " ( ho mustikētos , "the Mysticetus"), which D. W. Rice (of the Society for Marine Mammalogy ) in Rice 1998 assumed was an ironic reference to the animals' great size. An alternate name for
5379-460: A wing-like manner similar to penguins and sea turtles . Flipper movement is continuous. While doing this, baleen whales use their tail fluke to propel themselves forward through vertical motion while using their flippers for steering, much like an otter . Some species leap out of the water, which may allow them to travel faster. Because of their great size, right whales are not flexible or agile like dolphins, and none can move their neck because of
5542-441: A year-long gestation; the interval between births seems to have increased since the 1990s, and now averages three to six years. Calves are 13–15 feet (4.0–4.6 m) long at birth and weigh approximately 3,000 pounds (1,400 kg). Right whales feed mainly on copepods and other small invertebrates such as krill , pteropods , and larval barnacles , generally by slowly skimming through patches of concentrated prey at or below
5705-560: Is symbiotic in nature but is poorly understood by scientists. Callosities are not caused by the external environment and are present on fetuses before birth. However, Cyamids near the blowhole have been linked to chronic entanglement and other injuries; their presence in this area has been used as measure of individual health in visual health assessments. Adult North Atlantic right whales average 13–16 m (43–52 ft) in length and weigh approximately 40,000 to 70,000 kg (44 to 77 short tons), they are slightly smaller on average than
5868-483: Is a sign that they are slowly recovering from their earlier exploitation to near extinction. Southern right whales in Australian waters show higher rate of recoveries, as they have increased from 2,100 whales in 2008 to 3,500 in 2010. Two genetically distinct groups inhabit Australian waters: the southwestern population of 2,900 whales - in 2012 currently holding the majority of the overall Australian population - and
6031-561: Is an archaic word for "whale", which came from Old French baleine , derived from the Latin word balæna , derived itself from the Ancient Greek φάλλαινα (phállaina) . Right whales got their name because of whalers preferring them over other species; they were essentially the "right whale" to catch. Rorquals use throat pleats to expand their mouths, which allow them to feed more effectively. However, rorquals need to build up water pressure in order to expand their mouths, leading to
6194-419: Is an underlying connection to climate change. The temperature, circulation, and prey abundance changes associated with climate change have driven right whales to occupy new habitats (or existing habitats at new times of year), exposing them to anthropogenic threats outside of the scope of protective regulations. In particular, Canada's Gulf of St. Lawrence was the site of 17 right whale deaths and injuries during
6357-471: Is born after a gestation period of one year, about 1 short ton (0.91 t) in weight and 4–6 m (13–20 ft) in length. The calf usually remains with its mother during the first year of its life, during which time it will double in length. This species has been recognized to nurse unrelated orphans on occasions. Like right whales in other oceans, southern right whales feed almost exclusively on zooplankton , particularly krill. They feed just beneath
6520-455: Is disturbed by vibrations, it triggers sensory hairs which send electric current to the brain, where vibrations are processed into sound. Baleen whales have a small, yet functional, vomeronasal organ . This allows baleen whales to detect chemicals and pheromones released by their prey. It is thought that 'tasting' the water is important for finding prey and tracking down other whales. They are believed to have an impaired sense of smell due to
6683-567: Is important in the mating process. The proportion and numbers of molten-coloured individuals are notable in this species compared with the other species in the Northern Hemisphere. Some whales remain white even after growing up. Life span is not clear although whales seem to reach over 100 years old. Like other right whales, they are rather active on the water surface and curious towards human vessels. Southern rights appear to be more active and tend to interact with humans more than
Southern right whale - Misplaced Pages Continue
6846-403: Is injury sustained from ship strikes . Between 1970 and October 2006, 37% of all recorded North Atlantic right whale deaths were attributed to collisions. During the years 1999–2003, incidents of mortality and serious injury attributed to ship strikes averaged 1 per year. For the years 2004–2006, that number increased to 2.6. Additionally, it is possible that the official figures underestimate
7009-513: Is known to reach up to off Newfoundland and the Labrador Sea , and several have been found in a former whaling ground east of Greenland's southern tip. Parts of the western group, especially for those seen regularly in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, display different migratory or calving routines than other whales and these are so-called "Offshore Whales". There could be various areas along or off
7172-428: Is likely due to climate change which caused seasonally shifting accumulations of plankton in various parts of the world, necessitating travel over long distances, as well as the ability to feed on large baitballs to make such trips worthwhile. A 2017 analysis of body size based on data from the fossil record and modern baleen whales indicates that the evolution of gigantism in baleen whales occurred rather recently, within
7335-501: Is only 1 millimeter (0.04 in) thick. The dermis, the layer underneath the epidermis, is also thin. The hypodermis, containing blubber, is the thickest part of the skin and functions as a means to conserve heat. Right whales have the thickest hypodermis of any cetacean, averaging 51 centimeters (20 in), though, as in all whales, it is thinner around openings (such as the blowhole) and limbs. Blubber may also be used to store energy during times of fasting. The connective tissue between
7498-472: Is probably due to the great degree of control necessary for constantly swimming. Necropsies on the brains of gray whales revealed iron oxide particles, which may allow them to find magnetic north like a compass . Unlike most animals, whales are conscious breathers. All mammals sleep, but whales cannot afford to become unconscious for long because they may drown. They are believed to exhibit unihemispheric slow-wave sleep , in which they sleep with half of
7661-536: Is repeated annually. The gray whale has the longest recorded migration of any mammal, with one traveling 23,000 kilometers (14,000 mi) from the Sea of Okhotsk to the Baja Peninsula . North Atlantic right whale The North Atlantic right whale ( Eubalaena glacialis ) is a baleen whale , one of three right whale species belonging to the genus Eubalaena , all of which were formerly classified as
7824-414: Is the fastest among baleen whales, having been recorded travelling as fast as 10 m/s (36 km/h; 22 mph), and sustaining a speed of 2.5 m/s (9.0 km/h; 5.6 mph) for an extended period. While feeding, the rorqual jaw expands to a volume that can be bigger than the whale itself; to do this, the mouth inflates. The inflation of the mouth causes the cavum ventrale, the throat pleats on
7987-751: Is thought that their size increased with their dependence on baleen. However, the discovery of a skull of the toothed Llanocetus , the second-oldest mysticete, yielded a total length of 8 meters (26 ft), indicating filter feeding was not a driving feature in mysticete evolution. The discovery of Janjucetus and others like it suggests that baleen evolution went through several transitional phases. Species like Mammalodon colliveri had little to no baleen, while later species like Aetiocetus weltoni had both baleen and teeth, suggesting they had limited filter feeding capabilities; later genera like Cetotherium had no teeth in their mouth, meaning they were fully dependent on baleen and could only filter feed. However,
8150-590: Is under threat from an increase in shipping lanes and the fishing industries. 124 sightings in total were recorded during the period 1964–2008. Aside from vagrants' records, Peru's coastlines possibly host one of the northernmost confirmed range of the species along with Gabon, Senegal , Tanzania , Brazilian coasts, Madagascar, Indian Ocean, western Australia, Kermadec Islands, and tropical waters including South Pacific Islands . The Alfaguara project targeting cetaceans in Chiloe may possibly target this species as well in
8313-454: Is unexpected, involves a significant die-off of any marine mammal population, and demands immediate response." A UME for the North Atlantic right whale population has been active since 2017, a year where the population of under 400 individuals experienced 35 mortalities and morbidities. The most common direct causes of the deaths and injuries associated with the recent UME have been the same as ever (vessel strikes and entanglements), but there
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#17327726667248476-411: Is unknown where this occurred, but it is generally believed that they, like their descendants, followed plankton migrations. These primitive baleen whales had lost their dentition in favor of baleen, and are believed to have lived on a specialized benthic, plankton, or copepod diet like modern baleen whales. Baleen whales experienced their first radiation in the mid-Miocene . It is thought this radiation
8639-518: Is usually reversed, with the males being larger, but the females of all baleen whales are usually five percent larger than males. Sexual dimorphism is also displayed through whale song , notably in humpback whales where the males of the species sing elaborate songs. Male right whales have bigger callosities than female right whales. The males are generally more scarred than females which is thought to be because of aggression during mating season. The unique lungs of baleen whales are built to collapse under
8802-469: The Bay of Fundy has shown that exposure to low-frequency ship noise may be associated with chronic physiological stress in North Atlantic right whales. Following the tragic events of September 11th , maritime activity in the Bay of Fundy, a crucial calving and nursing ground for right whales, experienced a marked reduction in both ship traffic and density. Analysis of fecal matter collections from right whales in
8965-505: The Chaleur Bay , and up to Anticosti Island , Tadoussac and in the St. Lawrence River such as at Rouge Island. Until 1994, whales were regarded as rather vagrant migrants into St. Lawrence region, however annual concentrations of whales were discovered off Percé in 1995 and sightings in entire St. Lawrence regions have been shown gradual increases since in 1998. For example, in
9128-544: The Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle ) and colleagues suggested that, based on phylogenic criteria, there are four extant genera of rorquals. They recommend that the genus Balaenoptera be limited to the fin whale, have minke whales fall under the genus Pterobalaena , and have Rorqualus contain the Sei whale, Bryde's whale, Eden's whale (and by extension Rice's whale), the blue whale, and Omura's whale. The gray whale
9291-688: The North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) , the most influential climate force in the Northern Hemisphere. Periodically, pressure anomalies in the system shift from positive to negative as determined by the NAO Index, affecting temperatures and wind patterns. Abundant zooplankton populations have been linked to a positive NAO Index. As global temperatures increase, the NAO is predicted to shift more often and to greater intensities (so-called marine heatwaves). These shifts will likely greatly affect
9454-534: The North Atlantic right whale is ranked critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature . Besides hunting, baleen whales also face threats from marine pollution and ocean acidification . It has been speculated that man-made sonar results in strandings . They have rarely been kept in captivity, and this has only been attempted with juveniles or members of one of
9617-531: The Oligocene are the Mammalodontidae ( Mammalodon and Janjucetus ) from Australia . They were small with shortened rostra , and a primitive dental formula ( 3.1.4.3 3.1.4.3 ). In baleen whales, it is thought that enlarged mouths adapted for suction feeding evolved before specializations for bulk filter feeding . In the toothed Oligocene mammalodontid Janjucetus , the symphysis is short and
9780-751: The River Derwent in Tasmania complained that sounds of cavorting whales kept them awake at night. In July 1804, clergyman Robert Knopwood claimed that in crossing the River Derwent, "we passed so many whales that it was dangerous for the boat to go up the river unless you kept very near the shore". By the 1890s southern right whales had been brought to the brink of extinction, with over 25,000 whales killed in Australia and New Zealand. Studies of population structure and mating systems have shown that
9943-560: The fin whale ( B. physalus ), the Sei whale ( B. borealis ), Bryde's whale ( B. brydei ), Eden's whale ( B. edeni ), Rice's whale ( B. ricei ), the blue whale ( B. musculus ), the common minke whale ( B. acutorostrata ), the Antarctic minke whale ( B. bonaerensis ), Omura's whale ( B. omurai ), the humpback whale ( M. novaeangliae ), and the gray whale ( E. robustus ). In a 2012 review of cetacean taxonomy, Alexandre Hassanin (of
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#173277266672410106-423: The northern right whale or black right whale , is readily distinguished from other cetaceans by the absence of a dorsal fin on its broad back, short, paddle-like pectoral flippers and a long arching mouth that begins above the eye. Its coloration is dark grey to black, with some individuals occasionally having white patches on their stomachs or throats. Other unique features include a large head, which makes up
10269-591: The parvorder Mysticeti in the infraorder Cetacea ( whales , dolphins and porpoises ), which use keratinaceous baleen plates (or "whalebone") in their mouths to sieve planktonic creatures from the water. Mysticeti comprises the families Balaenidae ( right and bowhead whales), Balaenopteridae ( rorquals ), Eschrichtiidae (the gray whale ) and Cetotheriidae (the pygmy right whale ). There are currently 16 species of baleen whales. While cetaceans were historically thought to have descended from mesonychians , molecular evidence instead supports them as
10432-539: The respiratory tract to hold gas while diving. Doing so may cause serious complications such as embolism . Unlike other mammals, the lungs of baleen whales lack lobes and are more sacculated. Like in humans, the left lung is smaller than the right to make room for the heart. To conserve oxygen, blood is rerouted from pressure-tolerant-tissue to internal organs, and they have a high concentration of myoglobin which allows them to hold their breath longer. The heart of baleen whales functions similarly to other mammals, with
10595-465: The "Swedenborg whale" as proposed by Emanuel Swedenborg in the 18th century, was by scientific consensus once thought to be the North Atlantic right whale. However, the 2013 results of DNA analysis of those fossil bones revealed that they were in fact those of the bowhead whale. As the "right" whale continued to float long after being killed, it was possible to 'flense' or strip the whale of blubber without having to take it on board ship. Combined with
10758-407: The 1980s. Historical records suggest that this whale's regular range could have once reached further northwards up the coasts of Cape Fria (northern Namibia) and Angola as far as Baia dos Tigres (Tiger Bay). Whaling is known to have been carried out off the coast of Gabon , for example at Cape Lopez , and there have been a few confirmed and unconfirmed sightings including one by Jim Darling,
10921-458: The 2018 discovery of the toothless Maiabalaena indicates some lineages evolved toothlessness before baleen. Mystacodon selenensis is the earliest mysticete, dating back to 37 to 33 million years ago ( mya ) in the Late Eocene , and, like other early toothed mysticetes, or "archaeomysticetes", M. selenensis had heterodont dentition used for suction feeding. Archaeomysticetes from
11084-430: The 60 to 100 bpm in humans. When diving, their heart rate will drop to 4 to 15 bpm to conserve oxygen. Like toothed whales, they have a dense network of blood vessels ( rete mirabile ) which prevents heat-loss. Like in most mammals, heat is lost in their extremities , so, in baleen whales, warm blood in the arteries is surrounded by veins to prevent heat loss during transport. As well as this, heat inevitably given off by
11247-520: The American and Canadian Maine lobster fisheries to its "red list" of seafood species to avoid , for the same reason. The MSC and Seafood Watch led some retailers to stop selling Maine lobster . The decision was welcomed by whale-conservation groups, but opposed by the Maine lobster industry and elected officials in Maine, where the fishery is economically important. A 2011 analysis of data collected in
11410-596: The Antarctic circumpolar current and its effects on global climate patterns is excluded as being causal for the same reason. Gigantism also was preceded by divergence of different mysticete lineages, meaning multiple lineages arrived at large size independently. It is possible the Plio-Pleistocene increase in seasonally intense upwellings , causing high-prey-density zones, led to gigantism. When swimming, baleen whales rely on their flippers for locomotion in
11573-471: The Azores had probably been a migratory corridor rather than a wintering ground). Recent studies revealed that modern counterparts of the eastern and western populations are genetically much closer to each other than previously thought. Right whales' habitat can be affected dramatically by climate changes along with Bowhead whales. In spring, summer and autumn, the western North Atlantic population feeds in
11736-406: The Bight, with an average of a couple of whales per day, but as of 2009 there were regular sightings of more than ten whales at a time off Basham Beach, near Middleton. The South Australian Whale Centre at Victor Harbor has information on the history of whaling and whale-watching in the area, and maintains an on-line database of whale sightings. In June 2021 a female gave birth off Christies Beach ,
11899-577: The Navy to proceed. Anthropogenic climate change poses a clear and growing threat to right whales. Documented effects in the scientific literature include impacts on reproduction , range, prey access, interactions with human activities , and individual health condition. Climate-driven changes to ocean circulation and water temperatures have affected the species' foraging and habitat use patterns, with numerous harmful consequences. Warming waters lead to decreased abundance of an important prey species,
12062-419: The North Atlantic right whale ( E. glacialis ). Cetotheriidae consists of only one living member: the pygmy right whale ( Caperea marginata ). The first descriptions date back to the 1840s of bones and baleen plates resembling a smaller version of the right whale, and was named Balaena marginata . In 1864, it was moved into the genus Caperea after a skull of another specimen was discovered. Six years later,
12225-458: The North Atlantic right whale. Genetic differences between E. japonica (North Pacific) and E. australis (South Pacific) are much smaller than other baleen whales represent among different ocean basins. It is believed that the right whale populations first split because of the joining of North and South America when the Panama isthmus formed. The rising temperatures at the equator then created
12388-1629: The North Pacific species. The largest measured specimens have been 18.5 m (61 ft) long and 106,000 kg (234,000 lb). Females are larger than males. Up to forty-five percent of a right whale's body weight is blubber . This high percentage causes their body to float after death due to the fact that blubber has a low density. There is little data on their lifespan but it is believed to be at least 70 years, although individuals in species closely related to right whales have been found to live more than 100 years. Currently, female North Atlantic Right whales live on average 45 years and males 65 years. Age of right whales can be determined by examining their earwax postmortem. Aside from mating activities performed by groups of single female and several males, so called SAG (Surface Active Group) , North Atlantic right whales seem less active compared to subspecies in southern hemisphere . However, this could be due to intense difference in number of surviving individuals, especially calves that tend to be more curious and playful than adults, and small amount of observations. They are also known to interact with other baleen whales especially with Humpback whales or Bottlenose dolphins . North Atlantic right whales recordings are available online. Many effective automated methods, such as signal processing, data mining, and machine learning techniques are used to detect and classify their calls. North Atlantic right whales are promiscuous breeders. They first give birth at age nine or ten after
12551-495: The Northern Hemisphere, the other in the Southern Ocean . As recently as 1998, Rice, in his comprehensive and otherwise authoritative classification, Marine mammals of the world: systematics and distribution , listed just two species: Balaena glacialis (all of the right whales) and Balaena mysticetus (the bowheads). In 2000, Rosenbaum et al. disagreed, based on data from their genetic study of DNA samples from each of
12714-703: The TSS by 1 nautical mile (1.9 km) would reduce the relative risk of right whale ship strikes by 74% during April–July (63% from the ATBA and 11% from the narrowing of the TSS). In 2008, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and NOAA enacted a series of vessel speed restrictions to reduce ship collisions with North Atlantic right whales for ships in certain areas along the East Coast of
12877-411: The U.S. Endangered Species Act and Marine Mammal Protection Act and Canada's Species at Risk Act . There are an estimated 356 individuals in existence in the western North Atlantic Ocean —they migrate between feeding grounds in the Labrador Sea and their winter calving areas off Georgia and Florida , an ocean area with heavy shipping traffic. In the eastern North Atlantic, on the other hand—with
13040-554: The United States in order to reduce the probability of fatal ship strikes. The next greatest source of human-induced mortality is entanglement in fixed fishing gear such as bottom-set groundfish gillnet gear, cod traps and lobster pots . Between 1970 and October 2006, there have been 8 instances where entanglements have been the direct cause of death of North Atlantic right whales. This represents 11% of all deaths documented during that period. From 1986 to 2005, there were
13203-645: The Uruguayan parliament approved the creation of a whale sanctuary off Latin America to aid the recovery of the population. The creation of this protected area had been prevented for nearly a decade by pro-whaling nations such as Japan. For the critically endangered Chile/Peru population, the Cetacean Conservation Center (CCC) has been working on a separate programme for right whales. This population, containing no more than 50 individuals,
13366-616: The abundance of zooplankton, posing a great risk for right whale populations that cannot rapidly adapt to a new food source. Decreased abundance of C. finmarchicus as well as shifting seasonal temperature and ocean circulation patterns have also driven right whales to feed in different places and at different time of years compared to historical data. This has meant whales are present in habitats and times of year that are not accounted for by existing regulations intended to protect them from threats such as vessel strikes and gear entanglements. This has led to an increase in whale deaths alongside
13529-573: The actual ship-strike mortality rates, since whales struck in offshore areas may never be sighted due to low search effort. In 2002, the International Maritime Organization shifted the location of the Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS, i.e. shipping lanes) in the Bay of Fundy (and approaches) from an area with the highest density of North Atlantic right whales to an area of lower density. This
13692-469: The annual right whale calving season. When entanglement prevention efforts fail, disentanglement efforts occasionally succeed, despite the fact that such efforts are more frequently impossible or unsuccessful. Nevertheless, they do in fact make a significant difference because saving a few whales in a population of only 400 has a large positive effect against mortality rates. Between 2004–2008 there were at least four documented cases of entanglements for which
13855-500: The arteries warms blood in the surrounding veins as it travels back into the core . This is otherwise known as countercurrent exchange . To counteract overheating while in warmer waters, baleen whales reroute blood to the skin to accelerate heat-loss. They have the largest blood corpuscles ( red and white blood cells ) of any mammal, measuring 10 micrometers (4.1 × 10 in) in diameter, as opposed to human's 7.1-micrometer (2.8 × 10 in) blood corpuscles. When sieved from
14018-457: The brain while the other half remains active. This behavior was only documented in toothed whales until footage of a humpback whale sleeping (vertically) was shot in 2014. It is largely unknown how baleen whales produce sound because of the lack of a melon and vocal cords . In a 2007 study, it was discovered that the larynx had U-shaped folds which are thought to be similar to vocal cords. They are positioned parallel to air flow, as opposed to
14181-653: The capacity of their throats, allowing them to filter larger volumes of water at once. Gray whales are bottom-feeders, meaning they sift through sand to get their food. They usually turn on their sides, scoop up sediment into their mouths and filter out benthic creatures like amphipods , which leave noticeable marks on their heads. The pygmy right whale is easily confused with minke whales because of their similar characteristics, such as their small size, dark gray tops, light gray bottoms, and light eye patches. Molecular phylogeny suggests Mysticeti split from Odontoceti (toothed whales) between 26 and 17 million years ago between
14344-538: The central northern Indian Ocean and recent sightings among near-equatorial regions. If the sighting off Kiribati was truly of E. australis , this species may have crossed the Equator on irregular occasions and their original distributions might have been much broader and more northerly distributed than is currently believed. A stranding of a 21.3 m (71 feet) right whale at Gajana , northwestern India in November 1944
14507-539: The closely related North Atlantic and the North Pacific right whales , displaying only minor skull differences. It may have fewer callosities on its head than North Atlantic and more on its lower lips than the two northern species. The biological functions of callosities are unclear, although protection against predators has been put forward as the primal role. An adult female is 15 m (49 ft) and can weigh up to 47 tonnes (46 long tons; 52 short tons), with
14670-549: The coast of Massachusetts dragging fishing gear. The 17-year-old whale, who had been continuously entangled for at least 18 months, and was covered in lice and swimming slowly, was considered beyond saving by scientists. In 2022, the Marine Stewardship Council revoked its certification for the commercial Gulf of Maine lobster fishery , citing risks of entanglement of North American right whales in lobster-fishing gear. The same year, Seafood Watch added
14833-546: The coasts of Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Chile, Namibia, Mozambique, Peru, Tristan de Cunha , Uruguay, Madagascar, New Zealand and South Africa; whales have also been known to winter in sub-Antarctic regions. It appears that the South American, South African and Australasian groups intermix very little if at all, because maternal fidelity to feeding and calving habitats is very strong. The mother also passes these choices to her calves. Right whales do not normally cross
14996-672: The commencement of the Seven Years' War (1756–1763). A few attempts were made to revive the trade, but they failed. Shore whaling continued sporadically into the 19th century. It had previously been assumed that Basque whaling in eastern Canada had been the primary cause for the depletion of the sub-population in the western North Atlantic, but later genetic studies disproved this. Setting out from Nantucket and New Bedford in Massachusetts and from Long Island , New York, Americans took up to one hundred right whales each year, with
15159-631: The critically endangered southeastern group, counting only dozens to 300 individuals. Right whales can be found in many parts of southern Australia, where the largest population is found at the Head of the Bight in South Australia , a sparsely populated area south of the middle of the Nullarbor Plain . Over 100 individuals are seen there annually from June to October. Visitors can view the whales from cliff-top boardwalks and lookouts, with whales swimming almost directly below, or by taking
15322-405: The decrease in births, which together account for recent population decline. Even without accounting for deaths which are unreported and undocumented, the number of whale deaths between 2017 and 2020 exceeded the number of births, a trend that could lead to extinction if unaddressed. The Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) defines an Unusual Mortality Event (UME) as "a stranding event that
15485-635: The eastern side of the Strait of Magellan , especially near Cape Virgenes and Punta Dungeness , as the number of sightings increases. It is unknown whether these increases are due to re-colonisation by whales from the Patagonian population. Occurrences of brindle individuals have been confirmed from this population as well. Historically, populations of southern right whales in Oceanian regions were robust. Early settlers of Wellington , New Zealand, and
15648-430: The end of the mouth. This is probably because they feed on slow or immobile prey, combined with the fact that most sunlight does not pass 9.1 meters (30 ft), and hence they do not need acute vision. A whale's eye is adapted for seeing both in the euphotic and aphotic zones by increasing or decreasing the pupil 's size to prevent damage to the eye. As opposed to land mammals which have a flattened lens , whales have
15811-527: The entire North Atlantic (with mixing of eastern and western migratory routes occurring at locations in relatively high latitudes such as in the Denmark Strait ), and three sub-populations of eastern, western, and central Atlantic right whales (with the central stock ranging from Greenland's Cape Farewell in summer to the Azores , Bermuda , and Bahamas in winter, although recent study indicates that
15974-624: The evolutionary relationships between taxa . The point where a node branches off is analogous to an evolutionary branching – the diagram can be read left-to-right, much like a timeline. The following cladogram of the family Balaenidae serves to illustrate the current scientific consensus as to the relationships between the North Atlantic right whale and the other members of its family. E. glacialis North Atlantic right whale E. japonica North Pacific right whale E. australis Southern right whale B. mysticetus bowhead whale Another so-called species of right whale,
16137-439: The exception of the bowhead whale. Rorquals have a higher proportion of muscle tissue and tend to be negatively buoyant, whereas right whales have a higher proportion of blubber and are positively buoyant. Gray whales are easily distinguished from the other rorquals by their sleet-gray color, dorsal ridges (knuckles on the back), and their gray-white scars left from parasites. As with the other rorquals, their throat pleats increase
16300-484: The feeding behavior, and two limbs that are modified into flippers . The fin whale is the fastest baleen whale, recorded swimming at 10 m/s (36 km/h; 22 mph). Baleen whales use their baleen plates to filter out food from the water by either lunge-feeding or skim-feeding. Baleen whales have fused neck vertebrae , and are unable to turn their heads at all. Baleen whales have two blowholes . Some species are well adapted for diving to great depths. They have
16463-636: The first radiation in the late Oligocene. Eomysticetus and others like it showed no evidence in the skull of echolocation abilities, suggesting they mainly relied on their eyesight for navigation. The eomysticetes had long, flat rostra that lacked teeth and had blowholes located halfway up the dorsal side of the snout. Though the palate is not well-preserved in these specimens, they are thought to have had baleen and been filter feeders. Miocene baleen whales were preyed upon by larger predators like killer sperm whales and megalodon . The lineages of rorquals and right whales split almost 20 mya. It
16626-476: The fused cervical vertebrae ; this sacrifices speed for stability in the water. The hind legs are enclosed inside the body, and are thought to be vestigial organs . However, a 2014 study suggests that the pelvic bone serves as support for whale genitalia . Rorquals, needing to build speed to feed, have several adaptions for reducing drag , including a streamlined body; a small dorsal fin, relative to its size; and lack of external ears or long hair. The fin whale
16789-530: The future since calving activities have been confirmed in Chiloé Archipelago . Foraging grounds of this population is currently undetected, but possibly Chiloé and down south of Caleta Zorra to southern fiords such as from Penas Gulf to Beagle Channel although numbers of confirmations are small in the Beagle Channel . Hopes are arising for the establishment of a new tourism industry on
16952-433: The hypodermis and muscles allows only limited movement to occur between them. Unlike toothed whales, baleen whales have small hairs on the top of their head, stretching from the tip of the rostrum to the blowhole, and, in right whales, on the chin. Like other marine mammals , they lack sebaceous and sweat glands. The baleen of baleen whales are keratinous plates. They are made of a calcified, hard α-keratin material,
17115-449: The intervention of disentanglement teams averted a likely death of a right whale. For the first time in 2009 and again in 2011, scientists successfully used chemical sedation of an entangled whale to reduce stress on the animal and to reduce the time spent working with it. After disentangling the whale, scientists attached a satellite tracking tag, administered a dose of antibiotics to treat entanglement wounds and then another drug to reverse
17278-523: The island of Mayotte . Whales were historically taken off the coast of Tanzania, and may still be present occasionally around Zanzibar . Due to illegal whaling by the USSR , the recovery of many stocks including the population off Tristan da Cunha and adjacent areas such as Gough Island has been severely hindered, resulting in relatively few numbers of visiting animals. Based on catch records and recent observations, right whales may be seen as far north as
17441-895: The islands of Saint Helena and Ascension Island . In Brazil, more than 300 individuals have been cataloged through photo identification (using head callosities) by the Brazilian Right Whale Project, maintained jointly by Petrobras (the Brazilian state-owned oil company), and the conservation group, the International Wildlife Coalition . The State of Santa Catarina hosts a concentration of breeding and calving right whales from June to November, and females from this population also calve off Argentinian Patagonia and Uruguay . In recent years, possibly due to changing habitat environments by human activities and conflicts with local fisheries,
17604-428: The lack of the olfactory bulb , but they do have an olfactory tract . Baleen whales have few if any taste buds, suggesting they have lost their sense of taste. They do retain salt-receptor taste-buds suggesting that they can taste saltiness. Most species of baleen whale migrate long distances from high latitude waters during spring and summer months to more tropical waters during winter months. This migration cycle
17767-741: The lagoon of Lagoa dos Patos . Recent studies also show a decrease in the number of sightings along the southeastern Brazilian coast, which includes the highly urbanized States of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro . Further north, small numbers of whales migrate every year to winter or calve in Bahia , in particular at the Abrolhos Archipelago . Here, certain individuals are recorded returning at intervals of 3 or 4 years. Whaling records including those prior to Maury and Townsend indicate that right whales were once more frequent visitors further north, for example at Salvador, Bahia . Argentina hosts
17930-481: The larger records of 17.5–18 m (57–59 ft) in length and 80 tonnes (79 long tons; 88 short tons) or up to 90 tonnes (89 long tons; 99 short tons) in weight, making them slightly smaller than other right whales in the Northern Hemisphere . The testicles of right whales are likely to be the largest of any animal, each weighing around 500 kg (1,100 lb). This suggests that sperm competition
18093-413: The last 3 million years. Before 4.5 million years ago, few baleen whales exceeded 10 meters (33 ft) in length; the two largest Miocene species were less than 13 m (43 ft) in length. The initial evolution of baleen and filter feeding long preceded the evolution of gigantic body size, indicating the evolution of novel feeding mechanisms did not cause the evolution of gigantism. The formation of
18256-796: The late Oligocene or middle Miocene , but the earliest Mysticeti fossils date to at least 34 million years ago. Their evolutionary link to archaic toothed cetaceans ( Archaeoceti ) remained unknown until the extinct Janjucetus hunderi was discovered in the early 1990s in Victoria, Australia . While, unlike a modern baleen whale, Janjucetus lacked baleen in its jaw, the anatomy shows sufficient similarity to baleen whales. It appears to have had very limited apparent biosonar capabilities. Its jaw contained teeth, with incisors and canines built for stabbing and molars and premolars built for tearing. These early mysticetes were exceedingly small compared to modern baleen whales, with species like Mammalodon measuring no greater than 3 meters (10 ft). It
18419-1055: The latter. Cetaceans ( whales , dolphins , and porpoises ) and artiodactyls are now classified under the order Cetartiodactyla , often still referred to as Artiodactyla (given that the cetaceans are deeply nested with the artiodactyls). The closest living relatives to baleen whales are toothed whales both from the infraorder Cetacea . Bowhead whale [REDACTED] Southern right whale [REDACTED] North Atlantic right whale [REDACTED] North Pacific right whale [REDACTED] Pygmy right whale [REDACTED] Common minke whale [REDACTED] Southern minke whale [REDACTED] Gray whale [REDACTED] Humpback whale [REDACTED] Fin whale [REDACTED] Blue whale [REDACTED] Omura's whale Eden's whale [REDACTED] Rice's whale [REDACTED] Sei whale [REDACTED] Bryde's whale [REDACTED] Balaenidae consists of two genera: Eubalaena (right whales) and Balaena (the bowhead whale , B. mysticetus ). Balaenidae
18582-406: The lower jaw. The auditory meatus is blocked by connective tissue and an ear plug, which connects to the eardrum . The inner-ear bones are contained in the tympanic bulla , a bony capsule. However, this is attached to the skull, suggesting that vibrations passing through the bone is important. Sinuses may reflect vibrations towards the cochlea . It is known that when the fluid inside the cochlea
18745-435: The major difference being the size. The heart can reach 454 kilograms (1,000 lb), but is still proportional to the whale's size. The muscular wall of the ventricle , which is responsible for pumping blood out of the heart, can be 7.6 to 12.7 centimeters (3 to 5 in) thick. The aorta, an artery , can be 1.9 centimeters (.75 in) thick. Their resting heart rate is 60 to 140 beats per minute (bpm), as opposed to
18908-467: The mouth enlarged, the rostrum is wide, and the edges of the maxillae are thin, indicating an adaptation for suction feeding. The aetiocetid Chonecetus still had teeth, but the presence of a groove on the interior side of each mandible indicates the symphysis was elastic, which would have enabled rotation of each mandible, an initial adaptation for bulk feeding like in modern mysticetes. The first toothless ancestors of baleen whales appeared before
19071-433: The mouth of Altamaha River , Cape Canaveral , Sebastian Inlet and around Melbourne . As the population grows, it's also highly possible that more whales would start using rivers or river mouths, shallow estuaries, smaller inlets or bays. Whales have already seen repeatedly at various of these such as Indian River Inlet , Delaware River , Cape Cod Canal , and Jacksonville Drum. In early 2009, scientists recorded
19234-600: The number of whales visiting the coasts is decreasing. Sighting in locations other than Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul remain sporadic, such as along Cidreira , Rio de Janeiro coasts like Sepetiba Bay ( pt ), Cabo Frio , Macaé , Prado, Bahia , Castelhanos Bay in Ilha Bela , São Paulo coasts such as within Ilha Anchieta State Park , Honey Island, and bays and estuaries of Paranaguá and Superagui National Park , Paraná , and even entering into
19397-523: The numbers of sightings are slowly increasing. These areas include around Melbourne , such as in Port Phillip Bay , along Waratah Bay , at Ocean Grove , Warrnambool, on Mornington Peninsula , in Apollo Bay , and on Gippsland coasts and at Wilsons Promontory . Baleen whale Baleen whales ( / b ə ˈ l iː n / ), also known as whalebone whales , are marine mammals of
19560-429: The ocean surface. Sei whales and basking sharks (sometimes minke whales as well) are in positions as food competitors and are known to feed in the same areas, swimming next to each other, but there have not been any conflicts observed between these species. The whale's scientific name is Eubalaena glacialis , which means "good, or true, whale of the ice". The cladogram is a tool for visualizing and comparing
19723-790: The other two northern species. One behaviour unique to the southern right whale, known as tail sailing , is that of using their elevated flukes to catch the wind, remaining in the same position for a considerable amount of time. It appears to be a form of play and is most commonly seen off the coast of Argentina and South Africa. Some other species such as humpback whales are also known to display. Right whales are often seen interacting with other cetaceans, especially humpback whales and dolphins . There have been records of southern rights and humpbacks thought to be involved in mating activities off Mozambique , and along Bahia , Brazil. On several occasions, calving mothers have been recorded to nurse non-offspring calves along with their own calves. Additionally,
19886-518: The overall population size of the species is predicted to be at less than 50% of its pre-whaling state by 2100 due to heavier impacts of whaling and slower recovery rates. Since hunting ceased, the population is estimated to have grown by 7% a year. The southern right whale spends summer in the far Southern Ocean feeding, probably close to Antarctica . If the opportunity arises, feeding can occur even in temperate waters such as along Buenos Aires . It migrates north in winter for breeding and can be seen by
20049-440: The parvorder is "Mystacoceti" (from Greek μύσταξ "mustache" + κῆτος "whale"), which, although obviously more appropriate and occasionally used in the past, has been superseded by "Mysticeti" ( junior synonym ). Mysticetes are also known as baleen whales for their baleen , which they use to sieve plankton and other small organisms from the water. The term "baleen" ( Middle English baleyn, ballayne, ballien, bellane , etc.)
20212-408: The perpendicular vocal cords of terrestrial mammals. These may control air flow and cause vibrations. The walls of the larynx are able to contract which may generate sound with support from the arytenoid cartilages . The muscles surrounding the larynx may expel air rapidly or maintain a constant volume while diving. The eyes of baleen whales are relatively small for their size and are positioned near
20375-485: The potential dangers of anthropogenic noise disturbances to the overall health of this already critically endangered species. The US Navy proposed plans to build a new undersea naval sonar training range immediately adjacent to northern right whale calving grounds in shallow waters off the Florida/Georgia border. In September 2012, legal challenges by 12 environmental groups were denied in federal court, allowing
20538-401: The practice was banned globally in 1937. The ban was largely successful, although violations continued for several decades. Madeira took its last two right whales in 1967. For the period 1970 to October 2006, humans have been responsible for 48% of the 73 documented deaths of the North Atlantic right whale. A 2001 forecast showed a declining population trend in the late 1990s, and indicated
20701-400: The pressure instead of resisting the pressure which would damage the lungs, enabling some, like the fin whale, to dive to a depth of −470 meters (−1,540 ft). The whale lungs are very efficient at extracting oxygen from the air, usually 80%, whereas humans only extract 20% of oxygen from inhaled air. Lung volume is relatively low compared to terrestrial mammals because of the inability of
20864-529: The pygmy right whale was classified under the family Neobalaenidae. Despite its name, the pygmy right whale is more genetically similar to rorquals and gray whales than to right whales. A study published in 2012, based on bone structure, moved the pygmy right whale from the family Neobalaenidae to the family Cetotheriidae, making it a living fossil ; Neobalaenidae was demoted to subfamily level as Neobalaeninae. Rorquals consist of three genera ( Balaenoptera , Megaptera , and Eschrichtius ) and 11 species:
21027-608: The records including one report of 29 whales killed in Cape Cod Bay in a single day during January 1700. By 1750, the North Atlantic right whale population was, for commercial purposes, depleted. Yankee whalers moved into the South Atlantic before the end of the 18th century. The population was so low by the mid-19th century that the famous Whitby whaler Rev. William Scoresby, son of the successful British whaler William Scoresby senior (1760–1829), claimed to have never seen
21190-494: The region unveiled a noteworthy decline in fecal glucocorticoid (fGC) stress hormones post-9/11 compared to pre-9/11. This data demonstrates a correlation between ship traffic noise and stress levels in the right whale population. Heightened ambient noise from increased ship activity may contribute to chronic stress in these marine mammals. Prolonged elevation of fGC stress hormones is associated with adverse effects on growth rate, reproduction, and overall immune health emphasizing
21353-556: The right whale's lack of speed through water, feeding habits, and coastal habitat, they were easy to catch, even for whalers equipped only with wooden boats and hand-held harpoons . Basques were the first to commercially hunt this species. They began whaling in the Bay of Biscay as early as the eleventh century. The whales were hunted initially for whale oil , but, as meat preservation technology improved, their value as food increased. Basque whalers reached eastern Canada by 1530. The last Basque whaling voyages were made prior to
21516-527: The scarification of right whales over the years 1980 to 2009 showed that 82.9% of all North Atlantic right whales experienced at least one fishing gear entanglement, 59.0% have had more than one such experience, and an average of 15.5% of the population are entangled in fishing gear annually. In 2007, so as to protect northern right whales from serious injury or mortality from entanglement in gillnet gear in their calving area in Atlantic Ocean waters off
21679-691: The sedation. Despite concerns that the trauma might impair reproduction, researchers confirmed in January 2013 that three disentangled whales had given birth. Due to recently increased presences of right whales in Cape Breton to St. Lawrence regions, increases in entanglements and possible ship strikes have been confirmed as well including serious fatal cases involving three whales between June 24 and July 13, 2015. A female known as Snow Cone gained attention in September 2022 after being spotted off
21842-490: The shore from July to October while both Plettenberg Bay and Algoa Bay are also home to the southern right whales from July to December. They can be viewed from land as well as by boat with licensed operators conducting ocean safaris throughout the year. Recent increases in numbers of whales visiting the north-eastern part of South Africa, the so-called Dolphin Coast such as around Ballito and off Umdloti Beach , indicates
22005-505: The smallest species. Baleen whales are cetaceans classified under the parvorder Mysticeti, and consist of four extant families : Balaenidae ( right whales ), Balaenopteridae (rorquals), Eschrichtiidae ( gray whale ) and Cetotheriidae ( pygmy right whale ). Balaenids are distinguished by their enlarged head and thick blubber , while rorquals and gray whales generally have a flat head, long throat pleats, and are more streamlined than Balaenids. Rorquals also tend to be longer than
22168-543: The southeast United States, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) revised regulations implementing the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan (ALWTRP). This plan expands the restricted area to include the waters off of South Carolina, Georgia, and Northern Florida. It also prohibits gillnet fishing or even gillnet possession in those waters for a period of five months, beginning on November 15 of each year, which coincides with
22331-400: The southern right whale is readily distinguished from others by the callosities on its head, a broad back without a dorsal fin , and a long arching mouth that begins above the eye. Its skin is very dark grey or black, occasionally with some white patches on the belly. The right whale's callosities appear white due to large colonies of cyamids ( whale lice ). It is almost indistinguishable from
22494-440: The southern whale population at 10,000. An estimate of 7,000 followed a March 1998 IWC workshop. Researchers used data about adult female populations from three surveys (one in each of Argentina, South Africa and Australia, collected during the 1990s) and extrapolated to include unsurveyed areas, number of males and calves using available male:female and adult:calf ratios to give an estimated 1999 figure of 7,500 animals. Recovery of
22657-486: The southwest Australian and New Zealand populations are genetically differentiated. The results of satellite tracking suggest that there are at least some interactions between populations in Australia and New Zealand, but the extent of this is unknown. The two groups may share migratory corridors and calving grounds. The return of southern right whales to the Derwent River and other parts of Australia in recent decades
22820-461: The summer of 2017; research has since shown that whales had recently begun using the region consistently for the first time. It is not known how many populations of North Atlantic right whales existed prior to whaling, but the majority of studies usually consider that there were historically two populations, one each in the eastern and western North Atlantic. There are however two other hypotheses which claim, respectively, one super-population among
22983-435: The surface of the eye. Baleen whales appear to have limited color vision, as they lack S-cones . The mysticete ear is adapted for hearing underwater, where it can hear sound frequencies as low as 7 Hz and as high as 22 kHz , distinct from odontocetes whose hearing is optimized for ultrasonic frequencies. It is largely unknown how sound is received by baleen whales. Unlike in toothed whales, sound does not pass through
23146-479: The survey conducted by the Canadian Whale Institute in 2006, three whales were detected off the peninsula. Some whales including cow and calf pairs also appear around Cape Breton Island with notable increasing regularities in recent years, notably since in 2014, and about 35 to 40 whales were confirmed around Prince Edward Island and Gaspe Peninsula in 2015. Further, the whales' regular range
23309-437: The third stomach, where it meets fat-digesting enzymes, and is then mixed with an alkaline liquid to neutralize the acid from the fore-stomach to prevent damage to the intestinal tract . Their intestinal tract is highly adapted to absorb the most nutrients from food; the walls are folded and contain copious blood vessels , allowing for a greater surface area over which digested food and water can be absorbed. Baleen whales get
23472-431: The time considered all right whales (including the bowhead) to be a single species. In the 19th and 20th centuries the family Balaenidae was the subject of great taxonometric debate. Authorities have repeatedly recategorised the three populations of right whale plus the bowhead whale, as one, two, three or four species, either in a single genus or in two separate genera. In the early whaling days, they were all thought to be
23635-414: The underside stretching to the navel , to expand, increasing the amount of water that the mouth can store. The mandible is connected to the skull by dense fibers and cartilage ( fibrocartilage ), allowing the jaw to swing open at almost a 90° angle. The mandibular symphysis is also fibrocartilaginous, allowing the jaw to bend which lets in more water. To prevent stretching the mouth too far, rorquals have
23798-410: The upper jaw and are absent in the mid-jaw, forming two separate combs of baleen. The plates decrease in size as they go further back into the jaw; the largest ones are called the "main baleen plates" and the smallest ones are called the "accessory plates". Accessory plates taper off into small hairs. Unlike other whales (and most other mammals), the females are larger than the males. Sexual dimorphism
23961-415: The warm equatorial waters to connect with the other species and (inter)breed: their thick layers of insulating blubber make it difficult for them to dissipate their internal body heat in tropical waters. Based on historical records and unconfirmed sightings in modern periods, E. australis transits may sometimes occur through equatorial waters. Whaling records for the hemisphere include a whaling ground in
24124-434: The water they need from their food; however, the salt content of most of their prey ( invertebrates ) is similar to that of seawater, whereas the salt content of a whale's blood is considerably lower (three times lower) than that of seawater. The whale kidney is adapted to excreting excess salt; however, while producing urine more concentrated than seawater, it wastes a lot of water which must be replaced. Baleen whales have
24287-519: The water's surface, holding their mouths partly open and skimming water continuously while swimming. They strain the water out through their long baleen plates to capture their prey. A southern right whale's baleen can measure up to 2.8 m (9 ft 2 in) long, and is made up of 220-260 baleen plates. The global population of southern right whales was estimated at 13,611 in 2009. An estimate published by National Geographic in October 2008 put
24450-401: The water, food is swallowed and travels through the esophagus where it enters a three-chambered-stomach. The first compartment is known as the fore-stomach; this is where food gets ground up into an acidic liquid, which is then squirted into the main stomach. Like in humans, the food is mixed with hydrochloric acid and protein-digesting enzymes . Then, the partly digested food is moved into
24613-407: The west coasts where could have been frequented by whales potentially and might be re-colonized in the future such as Quoddy , Eastport , Plymouth Harbor , Sagamore Beach , Island of Nantucket , Florida Bay , Pamlico Sound , Gulf of Mexico (as far as to Texas ), Bahamas , Long Island Sound and vicinity to New York City , the mouth of Potomac River , Delaware and Chesapeake Bay ,
24776-549: The western North Atlantic in 2010, up from 361 in 2005. Distributions within other parts of Bay of Fundy is rather unknown, although whales are occasionally observed at various locations in northern parts such as in Baxters Harbour or at Campobello Island . Though their numbers are still scarce, some right whales migrate regularly into the Gulf of St. Lawrence , notably around the Gaspé Peninsula and in
24939-402: The whale populations. Genetic evidence now shows that the northern and southern populations of right whale have not interbred for between 3 million and 12 million years, confirming the southern right whale as a distinct species. The northern Pacific and Atlantic populations are also distinct, with the North Pacific right whale being more closely related to the southern right whale than to
25102-588: The whales' normal ranges are expanding and that re-colonising historical habitats will likely continue as more whales migrate further north. In Namibia, the majority of confirmed whales are restricted to the south of Luderitz , on the southwestern coast. Only a handful of animals venture further north to historical breeding grounds such as at Walvis Bay, but their numbers are slowly increasing. Until illegal hunting ceased, whales were rare along Namibian shores, with no sighting recorded north of Orange River until 1971. Calving activities were first confirmed as recently as
25265-540: The world's largest breeding population of southern right whales at Península Valdés , Chubut province , with over 2000 estimated individuals gathering on the gulfs of the peninsula during breeding season. The whales are considered a "natural monument" and protected under Argentine law, and there is a developed whale-watching tourism around them. During the 2012 annual meeting of the International Whaling Commission's Scientific Committee, data
25428-469: The zooplankton Calanus finmarchicus . This reduction in prey availability affects the health of the right whale population in numerous ways. The most direct impacts are on the survival and reproductive success of individual whales, as lower C. finmarchicus densities have been associated with malnutrition-related health issues and difficulties successfully giving birth to and rearing calves. In 1998, zooplankton populations dropped dramatically following
25591-555: Was caused by global climate change and major tectonic activity when Antarctica and Australia separated from each other, creating the Antarctic Circumpolar Current . Balaenopterids grew bigger during this time, with species like Balaenoptera sibbaldina perhaps rivaling the blue whale in terms of size, though other studies disagree that any baleen whale grew that large in the Miocene. The increase in size
25754-526: Was formerly classified in its own family. The two populations, one in the Sea of Okhotsk and Sea of Japan and the other in eastern Pacific are thought to be genetically and physiologically dissimilar. However, there is some discussion as to whether the gray whale should be classified into its own family, or as a rorqual, with recent studies favoring the latter. The taxonomic name "Mysticeti" ( / ˌ m ɪ s t ɪ ˈ s iː t aɪ / ) apparently derives from
25917-744: Was presented regarding the continued phenomenon of southern right whale strandings and high rate of mortality at Península Valdés . Between 2003 and 2011, a total of 482 dead right whales were recorded at Península Valdés. There were at least 55 whale deaths in 2010, and 61 in 2011. As in previous years, the vast majority of strandings were calves of the season. There have been increasing sightings in various other locations in recent years, such as on Golfo San Jorge , Tierra del Fuego , Puerto Deseado , Mar del Plata , Miramar, Buenos Aires , and Bahía Blanca . In Uruguay, coastal areas such as Punta del Este host congregating sites for whales in breeding seasons, but these are not likely to be calving grounds. In 2013
26080-702: Was reported, but the true identity of this animal is unclear. Aside from impacts on whales and environments caused by mankind, their distributions and residences could be largely affected by presences of natural predators or enemies, and similar trends are also probable for other subspecies. Many locations throughout the Southern Hemisphere were named after current or former presences of southern rights, including Walvis Bay , Punta Ballena , Right Whale Bay , Otago Harbour , Whangarei Harbour , Foveaux Strait , South Taranaki Bight , Moutohora Island and Wineglass Bay . Hermanus in South Africa has become known as
26243-619: Was the first time the IMO had changed a TSS to help protect marine mammals. In 2006, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) established a set of recommended vessel routes to reduce ship strikes in four important eastern-US right whale habitats. In 2007, and again on June 1, 2009, NOAA changed the TSS servicing Boston to reduce vessel collisions with right whales and other whale species. NOAA estimated that implementing an "Area To Be Avoided" (ATBA) and narrowing
26406-409: Was the worst calving season since 2000, with only seven calves sighted – and one of those was believed to have died. This is significantly below the annual average of 20 calves per year over the last decade. As the gestation period for right whales is a year long, researchers believe that a lack of food in the whales' summer feeding grounds in the Bay of Fundy during the summer of 2010 may be linked to
26569-509: Was thought to have consisted of only one genus until studies done through the early 2000s reported that bowhead whales and right whales are morphologically (different skull shape) and phylogenically different. According to a study done by H. C. Rosenbaum (of the American Museum of Natural History ) and colleagues, the North Pacific ( E. japonica ) and Southern right ( E. australis ) whales are more closely related to each other than to
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