EcoWorld - Whales

The Gray Whale is a stocky but slender whale. The head is small, narrow and triangular and the flippers are pointed and paddle-like. There is no visible dorsal fin, instead, there is a series of bumps called crenulations along the dorsal ridge. Mottled grey in color with patches of barnacles and whale lice which add to the appearance.

The Gray Whale migrates to the Arctic feeding grounds and remains there April to November, and spends December to April in the Pacific Mexican breeding grounds. This migration of 12-20,000km (7,450 to 12,500 miles) every year is believed to be the longest of any mammal. There are about 22,000 Gray Whales in the Pacific, the Atlantic Gray Whale has been extinct for about 300 years.

Weight: weight ranges between 14-35 tonnes (27.5 to 33 tons).

Length: between 12-14m (40 to 46 feet) in length, with the largest recorded measuring in at 15m, females are generally larger than males.

Lifespan: about 70 years.

Habitat and Range: This species is a coastal cetacean, usually seen over the continental shelf and in water less than 10m deep. Nearly all animals, during their migration, pass within 2km of the shoreline, and occasionally Gray Whales are encountered in deeper waters.

Endangered Status: 22,000 animals. Vulnerable.