Bowhead whale
Arctic dweller endangered by insiduous threats
| Common Name |
Bowhead whale, greenland right whale; |
|
| Scientific Name | Balaena mysticetus | |
| Status |
IUCN: LR/cd (Conservation Dependent - Critically Endangered in Svalbard, |
|
| Population | Approximately 10,000 |
Background
This predominantly Arctic species has suffered from severe over-exploitation that has seen its range shrink considerably since the 17th Century.
In Canada, WWF has completed a conservation strategy for populations of the eastern Arctic with experts from native Nunavut communities, co-management and wildlife boards, the federal fisheries department and bowhead whale scientists.
Physical Description
The bowhead is a mysticete whale, a suborder of cetaceans characterized by rows of baleen plates for feeding on plankton, a symmetrical skull and paired blowholes. The species is recognized by its large skull (it represents about a third of its body length), and the prominent upturned lower jaw. There are two rows of about 300 vertical baleen plates, which at 300-450 cm are the largest of any whale. There is no dorsal fin.With these large heads and powerful bodies, bowhead whales are capable of breaking through sea ice at least 20cms thick: Inuit hunters in Alaska have reported whales surfacing through 60cms of ice.
Size
Adult bowheads have an average length of 15 to 18 meters, with a particulary large specimen reported at 19.8 meters and over 100,000 kg in weight.
Colour
Adult bowheads are entirely black except the front part of the lower jaw which is whitish. There are white patches on the belly and a gray area at the beginning of the tail.
Habitat
Biogeographic realmNearctic, Palearctic.
Range States
Canada, Greenland, Iceland, Japan, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Korea, Norway, Russian Federation, Svalbard and Jan Mayen, United States.
Ecological Region
Bering-Beaufort-Chukchi Seas, Barents-Kara Seas, Grand Banks.
