WWF - Whale watching in the Arctic - The Northern (or Common) Minke Whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata)
The Northern (or Common) Minke Whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata)
Photo by WWF / Morten Lindhard
(Note: the minke whales in the Southern Hemisphere are a separate species, Southern (or Antarctic) minke (Balaenoptera bonaerensis)
You are more likely to see Minke whales at close quarters than other baleen whales because they are notoriously inquisitive and often approach boats.
They are black, brown, or dark grey on their backs and lighter on the belly and underside of their flippers. The most conspicuous feature is a diagonal band of white on the upper surface of each flipper. Like fin whales, minke whales sometimes have a light chevron on the back, behind the head and two regions of light grey on each side - one just above and behind the flipper, and another just in front of and below the dorsal fin. The tail flukes can be pale grey, blue-grey or white on the underside, usually with a dark margin. The baleen plates are white, grey or cream in colour.
|
