Sei Whale

Balaenoptera borealis

Sei whale *(Balaenoptera borealis)*
Length	19 m
Weight	45 t
Blow	3 m
Breathing	5-20 min
Diving	not very deep
Diet	krill, plankton, small fish
Life span	at least 69 years
Status	endangered

Main Characteristics

The Sei Whale has a large, sleek body that is grey above and white or cream-coloured below. Oval scars often cover the body. A single longitudinal ridge forms a midline on top of the head. The flippers are relatively short and pointed, and the fluke comparably small. Together with the fin whales, they probably are the fastest swimmers of the large whales, capable of speeds up to 45 km/h.

Behaviour

Sei Whales, like most rorquals, live solitary or in small groups of 2 - 3 individuals. Occasionally, they form large aggregations of up to 100 individuals in good food spots. The Sei whale is calm at the surface, lifts neither fluke nor flippers and never jumps.

Whaling and Population Size

Sei Whales were hunted excessively during the mid 20th century, which caused the population to crash. Protected since the 1970's, the population size is estimated to be about 50.000 individuals worldwide.

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