Description: Gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus) are cetaceans that belong to the Suborder Mysticeti, the Baleen whales. Baleen whales, also called filter-feeding whales, have 2 sets of plates that extend from the upper jaw and enable the animal to filter food from the oceans in which it swims. Gray whales grow to lengths of 13m-15m (43ft-49ft) and weigh 14-35 tonnes.
Gray whales have shorter baleen plates than other members of the suborder Mysticeti. Their skin is a mixture of different grays and is speckled by barnacles and whale lice. Their flukes (tails) have deep notches in them.
Classification:
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum Chordata
- Class: Mammalia
- Order Cetacea
- Suborder Mysticeti
- Family Balaenopteridae
- Genus Eschrichtius
- Species Eschrichtius robustus
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Habitat: Spends summers in the North Pacific and Arctic Oceans. Migrates south in winter to the waters of the Pacific Rim. Makes the longest migration of any mammal, sometimes distances exceeding 19,300km (12,000mi).
Diet: Small crustaceans, starfish, shrimp, tube worms.
Status: Endangered.
Sources:
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
- Burnie, D. and D.E. Wilson. Animal. Dorling Kindersley. London. 2001.
- Eschrichtius robustus. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology's Animal Diversity Web.
