Northern right whale (Eubalaena glacialis)
Distribution data supplied by the Ocean Biodiversity Information System (OBIS). To interrogate UK data visit the NBN Atlas.Map Help
Researched by | Morvan Barnes | Refereed by | Admin |
Authority | (Müller, 1776) | ||
Other common names | - | Synonyms | Balaena glacialis (Desmoulins, 1822) |
Summary
Description
Recorded distribution in Britain and Ireland
Recorded off the west coasts of the Outer Hebrides and off the south-west coast of the Isle of Man.Global distribution
-Habitat
The northern right whale is an open ocean whale, not often seen near the coast in north-west Europe. It can be found at the surface or diving down to a few hundred metres.Depth range
-Identifying features
- Up to 17 m in length.
- Uniform blue-black over entire body except a white genital region.
- No creases on chin or throat.
- No dorsal fin or hump.
- Arched upper jaw and mouthline.
- Distinct callosities on its head.
Additional information
Northern right whales are usually found alone or in pairs, although in feeding areas up to a dozen have been seen together. It occasionally breeches, and when diving, it will often show the tail flukes. Slapping of the flippers and tail flukes has been observed. Dives may last up to 40 minutes long (Kinze, 2002).Listed by
Bibliography
Bruyns, W.F.J.M., 1971. Field guide of whales and dolphins. Amsterdam: Publishing Company Tors.
Howson, C.M. & Picton, B.E., 1997. The species directory of the marine fauna and flora of the British Isles and surrounding seas. Belfast: Ulster Museum. [Ulster Museum publication, no. 276.]
Jefferson, T.A., Leatherwood, S. & Webber, M.A., 1994. FAO species identification guide. Marine mammals of the world. Rome: United Nations Environment Programme, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
Kinze, C. C., 2002. Photographic Guide to the Marine Mammals of the North Atlantic. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Reid. J.B., Evans. P.G.H., Northridge. S.P. (ed.), 2003. Atlas of Cetacean Distribution in North-west European Waters. Peterborough: Joint Nature Conservation Committee.
Datasets
NBN (National Biodiversity Network) Atlas. Available from: https://www.nbnatlas.org.
OBIS (Ocean Biodiversity Information System), 2024. Global map of species distribution using gridded data. Available from: Ocean Biogeographic Information System. www.iobis.org. Accessed: 2024-10-08
Citation
This review can be cited as:
Last Updated: 02/06/2008