Minke Whale

Balaenoptera acutorostrata

Main Characteristics

Minke Whales have a comparably small and sleek body that is black or dark grey above and whitish underneath. The head is pointed and V-shaped, with a longitudinal ridge running along the top of the head. The flippers are narrow with pointed tips and in the Northern Hemisphere have a white band across, whereas the individuals living in the Southern Hemisphere usually have plain black flippers. The dorsal fin is falcate and used for identification.  The dorsal fin, located behind mid back is fairly big, backward curved an can be used to idntify individuals.

Behaviour

This species is known for its curiosity and for unhesitatingly approaching boats and playing in the surface next to boats, rolling ower and spy hopping.Minke Whales arch their body prior to a dive but don't lift the fluke, and can occasionally be seen breaching. 

Minke Whales live solitary or in small groups, but large aggregations sometimes occur in feeding areas.  

Migration and Foraging 

As a migratory species, Minke Whales generally inhabit warmer waters during the winter, while spending the summer months in higher latitudes to feed.

Whaling and Population Size

Once considered too small to hunt, Minke Whales became the primary target of commercial whalers until today. Minke Whales seem to be very adaptable and the only species, which population size increased despite the commercial whaling era and other disturbances.     The population size is estimated to be about 800.000 individuals worldwide where of 200.000 are estimated to live in the North Atlantic.

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