Species · GBIF taxon 2440718
Fin Whale
Balaenoptera physalusAlso known as Finback Whale, Common Rorqual, Herring Whale, Razorback Whale
Fin whales slice through the open ocean with remarkable speed, earning them the nickname greyhounds of the sea. They display a striking asymmetrical coloration on their heads, with the lower right jaw being bright white while the left side remains dark grey. These massive baleen whales migrate between cold polar feeding grounds and warm temperate breeding waters, communicating across vast ocean basins using low-frequency pulses.
MarineMigratoryGiant
Licensed reference(c) Cephas, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
- diet
- Krill, small schooling fish, and copepods
- family
- Balaenopteridae
- threats
- Ship strikes, ocean noise pollution, entanglement in fishing gear, and climate change
- life Span
- 80 to 90 years
VU
Massive size poses a collision hazard; maintain a safe distance of at least 100 yards when boating.
Fin whales are recovering from historical commercial whaling and remain vulnerable to ship strikes and ocean noise.
Maintain a distance of at least 100 yards and never steer a vessel directly into their path.- Watch the Blow: Look for a tall, column-like spout reaching up to six meters high when they surface.
- Check the Jaw: Use binoculars to spot the white right lower jaw, a key diagnostic feature.
- Keep Distance: Always follow local whale-watching guidelines and cut boat engines if they approach.