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Length:
60-80 feet
Weight: 50-70 tons
Population Status: Endangered
Finback (or
Fin) whales are the second-largest whale species in the world - the only
whale larger than a finback whale is a blue whale! Blue whales may
reach lengths of up to 100 feet, but fin whales are also pretty big -
they may grow to up to 70 feet, or about the size of 13 adults laid head
to feet! Fin whales are also the world's fastest whale, traveling
at speeds up to 35 mph!
Scientists identify fin whales by the shape of their dorsal fin (the fin
on their back), scars they have on their body, and their chevron
marking, a v-shaped marking that is usually on the fin whale's right
side, just behind its head. Here's a photo of a fin whale with a
bright chevron marking:
You can also
see this whale's white jaw patch under the water, toward the right edge
of the photo. Fin whales are the only animal we know of that have
different coloring on its right and left sides - the right side of a fin
whale's jaw, and part of its baleen, is all white, while the left side
is dark gray.
Scientists have identified and studied several hundred individual fin
whales in the Gulf of Maine. To learn more about adopting a fin
whale, click here.
Feeding: Fin whales have 800-900 baleen plates
which they use to feed on schooling fish and krill. A fin whale
can eat 2-3 tons of fish per day!
Migration: Fin whale migration patterns are complex and
not well-understood. It is thought that many fin whales move
offshore during the winter, although fin whales have been seen in the
Gulf of Maine throughout the year.
Mating/calving: Fin whales are thought to mate
during the winter breeding season. Females are pregnant for about 11
months. At birth, the calf is 18-20 feet long! Calves nurse
for about 6-7 months and separate from their mother after about a year.
Whale watching: Fin whales have a noticeable
spout, or blow, that rises about 20 feet above the water and can be seen
from a good distance away. They surface fairly horizontally, and you
will see their head, dark back, and tall dorsal fin as they surface.
Fin whales rarely raise their tail above the water when they dive - they
just arch their back and dive gracefully into the water.
Population status: Fin whales are
endangered. There are an estimated 75,000-100,000 fin whales worldwide.
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