General Description

Upper body dark grey, underneath white and sides with pale streaks or patches. White patch on each flipper. Grooves (throat pleats) underneath from throat and extending just past the flippers. Dorsal fin with curved edge. Water spray from blowhole is diffuse and often not visible. Up to 8.8 m long.

Biology

These whales sometimes perform aerial acts such as breaching. They grow to about 9200 kg. Once considered too small to be of commercial value, they are now heavily hunted in the Northern Hemisphere as populations of larger species have become depleted.

Habitat

Tropical and temperate waters.

Open water

Distribution guide

Worldwide. Potentially near Port Phillip, recorded from Victoria.

Species Group

Mammals › Whales and dolphins

Depth

Shore (0-1 m)
Shallow (1-30 m)
Deep ( > 30 m)

Water Column

Surface Midwater

Max Size

8.8 m

Diet

Plankton or Particles

Commercial Species

No

Global Dispersal

Recorded in Australia

Conservation Status

• DSE Advisory List : Not listed
• EPBC Act 1999 : Not listed
• IUCN Red List : Least Concern
• CITES : Trade restrictions (Appendix I)