Fin Whale

Balaenoptera physalus

Main Characteristics

Fin Whales are the second largest animals on earth, outmatched only by Blue Wahles. The body is long and sleek, dark coloured above and white below, with a brown-toned chevron pattern behind the head. The right jaw is white or pale, while the left is dark gray or black. The baleen plates are coloured accordingly. The tall blow looks like an inverted cone.

Behaviour 

Living mostly solitary or in small groups, Fin Whales are sometimes found traveling with Blue Whales, with whom they occasionally crossbreed. They are fast swimmers and reach speeds of up to 45 km/h. Like the Blue Whales, they producing very loud, low-frequency vocalizations that travel long distances under water.

Fin Whales occur in all major oceans, but are mainly found in temperate to polar latitudes, where they concentrate in coastal and shelf waters. 

Whaling and Population Size 

Fin Whales were the most hunted great whale species during the 20th century, but hawe been protected worldwide since 1966. The population size is estimated to be 120.000 - 150.000 worldwide.

Fin Whales are among the species hunted in Iceland since the ban on commercial whaling. 292 were taken 1986-1989 as a part of a scientific program, and 7 more were taken commercially in 2006. In February 2009 a whaling quota of 150 Fin Whales was issued by the Icelandic Ministry of Fisheries.

To learn more about Fin Whales visit Wikipedia or the American Cetacean Society