What is the scientific name for the minke whale?
Table of Contents
What is the scientific name for the minke whale?
Balaenoptera acutorostrata
Common minke whale/Scientific names
Classification. Balaenoptera acutorostrata (for northern hemisphere and dwarf minke whales) Order: Cetacea. The whales, dolphins and porpoises.
How many species of minke whales are there?
Common minke whale
Antarctic minke whaleScammon’s minke whaleDwarf minke whale
Minke whale/Representative species
There are two recognized species of minke whales with partially overlapping ranges: The Common minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata), and the Antarctic minke whale (B. bonaerensis)1. Dwarf minke whales are an unnamed subspecies of the common minke whale that occurs almost exclusively in the Southern Hemisphere.
Is there a purple whale?
The minke whale is a black/gray/purple color. Common minke whales (Northern Hemisphere variety) are distinguished from other whales by a white band on each flipper.
What eats a minke whale?
What are some predators of Minke Whales? Predators of Minke Whales include humans, sharks, and killer whales.
Why are minke whales called minke?
They received their common name from a Norwegian novice whaling spotter named Meincke, who supposedly mistook a minke whale for a blue whale. Minke whales in the United States are not endangered or threatened, but they are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
Where can I find minke whales?
Most whale watching providers specialize in humpback whales, gray whales, sperm whales or orcas, there are rather few tours that focus primarily on minke whales. Nevertheless it can be a real highlight to meet them. The best chances are around Iceland, but also in Norway, Greenland and the British Isles.
How did minke whale get its name?
Minke whales are members of the baleen or “great” whale family and are the smallest of the rorquals. They received their common name from a Norwegian novice whaling spotter named Meincke, who supposedly mistook a minke whale for a blue whale.
Where do you find minke whales?
Northern minke whales have a widespread distribution in the Northern Hemisphere and are found throughout the northern Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Their range extends from the ice edge in the Arctic during the summer to near the equator during winter.
Do killer whales eat minke whales?
In the North Atlantic, the type 1 killer whales consume a varied diet that includes seals and small, schooling fishes such as herring and mackerel. Type 2 killer whales specialize in cetacean prey including dolphins, porpoises, and baleen whales such as minke whales.
Why is it called minke whale?
The scientific names for minke whales translate to: “winged whale,” (Balaenoptera) “sharp snout” (acutorostrata). They received their common name from a Norwegian novice whaling spotter named Meincke, who supposedly mistook a minke whale for a blue whale.
What are minke whales known for?
Minke whales (pronounced mink-ee) are members of the baleen whale family, a group of large whales named for the unique plates of baleen that hang from their jaws and act as a strainer while they feed. Despite their large size, minke whales are actually the smallest members of the “great whale” family.
What type of whale is a minke?
Minke whales are members of the baleen or “great” whale family and are the smallest of the rorquals. They are one of the most abundant rorqual in the world, and their population status is considered stable throughout almost their entire range (especially when compared to other species of large whales).
What is the life expectancy of a minke whale?
Minke whales typically live for 30-50 years; in some cases they may live for up to 60 years. Minke whales have a digestive system composed of four compartments with a high density of anaerobic bacteria throughout.
What habits do minke whales have?
Physical Characteristics and Appearance. The minke whale is the second smallest whale in the baleen suborder with the smallest known species being the pygmy right whale.
What do minke whales look like?
The minke whale is a black/gray/purple color. Common minke whales ( Northern Hemisphere variety) have a white band on each flipper. The body is usually black or dark-gray above and white underneath. Most of the back, including dorsal fin and blowholes, appears at once when the whale comes to the surface to breathe.
Are minke whales on the endangered list?
These whales are not an endangered species . Common Minke Whales currently has a conservation status of Least Concern from the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature). Scientists believe that there are more than 180,000 of these whales left. The Antarctic Minke has a slightly higher threat of becoming endangered.