North Atlantic Right Whale

The North Atlantic Right Whale (Eubalaena glacialis) is one of the largest species of whale in the ocean and is currently listed as severely endangered. This majestic species was so named by ancient whaling boats because they are the “right whale to kill”, one of the only species of whale that was able to float post-mortem. Therefore the easiest species of whale to haul onto whaling boats.

These whales number in the mere hundreds in recent years, with few breeding females and even fewer calves. Fret not, however, these whales have made leaps and bounds toward revitalization over the years, their numbers higher now than they’ve been in many years and steadily rising as conservation efforts tighten by the day,

Characteristics & Appearance

The North Atlantic right whale is known for its vast, short body that gives it a rounder appearance than most whales. Right Whales exhibit sexual dimorphism, meaning physical characteristics can distinguish their sex.

North Atlantic Right Whale Weight & Length

The North Atlantic right whale is one of the larger species of whale. At birth, the calves can be anywhere from 13-15 feet long and weigh around 2,000 lbs. By adulthood, females tend to be larger than males. Adult whales can get as long as 55 feet and weigh up to 100 tons.

Physical Characteristics & Color of North Atlantic Right Whales

North Atlantic right whales have a dark gray, almost black color. They’re entirely dark except for some distinguishing features like patches on their bellies, scarring, head excrescences, parasites, and callosities. Callosities are usually found near the blowhole, rostrum, or on the face near the eyes and mouth and are home to crustaceans known as “whale lice.” These callosities can be a range of colors, including yellow, orange, white, or pink.

The North Atlantic right whale has a few features that distinguish it from other whales, including the lack of a dorsal fin and grooved throat. Their flippers are wide and short. Their baleen is uncommonly long, reaching lengths of over 16 feet in adults, and they have an arched jaw to accommodate this large baleen. There are usually around 300 baleen plates on each side.

With a head of almost a third of their body size and v-shaped blow that can be over 16 ft above the surface, these whales present a formidable appearance. The right whale has the greatest amount of blubber of any whale species, with thicknesses of up to 28 inches and making up almost half of its body mass.

Lifespan & Reproduction

Although right whales used to live upwards of 80 years, their lifespans are now significantly decreased. Females live to an average of 45 years, and males live for around 65 years. Right whales are polygamous creatures and don’t form any permanent bonds. Both males and females reach sexual maturity between five and ten years old.

The females likely have more than one partner during a mating season. This behavior is likely because the males aren’t aggressive with one another when it comes to finding a mate. They typically mate in the winter, and their young are born in the spring. The female gives birth to only one calf. Females typically only get pregnant once every three to four years.

Habitat

The right whale prefers to live near the coastline. They typically inhabit deeper waters while foraging for food and mating. They then move to more shallow areas to give birth to their young.

Where Does the North Atlantic Right Whale Live?

As their name suggests, the North Atlantic right whale is found in the Atlantic ocean off the coasts of Europe and North America, although they will venture into much deeper water. They migrate each season, sometimes up to 1,000 miles.

Right whales spend much of the year off the colder coast of New England and Canada. They venture into warmer, shallow waters in South Carolina down to Florida to have their babies.

Food & Diet

The North Atlantic right whale is a forager, and its diet is made up of mostly pelagic crustaceans. They don’t hunt and aren’t considered a predator to humans. Instead, the right whale is what is called a filter feeder. They have a unique way of feeding that differs from how other baleen whales feed. The right whale’s baleen is angled to capture prey as they swim along with their mouths open.

What Does the North Atlantic Right Whale Eat?

The right whale’s diet is made up entirely of zooplankton. Their favorite foods are pelagic crustaceans like copepods and krill. They particularly enjoy larger, rice-sized copepods but will eat the smaller ones as well. They’ll also eat smaller invertebrates.

Threats & Predators of North Atlantic Right Whales

Although the North Atlantic right whale is a peaceful, majestic creature, they are in grave danger of going extinct. They do have a few predators but are mostly at risk due to human threats.

Human Threats

Humans are one of the biggest threats to the right whale. Humans have been hunting this whale for over 1,000 years. They were profitable, as whalers could sell their blubber, oil, and meat. Since they were often found in shallow water and float once killed, they made for easy prey.

While whaling is no longer as prominent, humans still pose a threat to the right whale. These whales often get caught up in fishing nets or struck by vessels. These are the leading causes of death. Humans are now also making more noise in the ocean, which can mess with the whales’ communication patterns and cause them stress.

Climate Change & Global Warming

One of the biggest issues with climate change and global warming is that the oceans are getting warmer. Even small temperature increases can have a big effect. While the right whale isn’t yet physically in danger of rising ocean temperature, their food sources are.

As the water temperatures increase, the right whale’s primary food sources may wind up moving or decreasing in number as their habitats are disturbed. Changing ocean currents and winds may affect these populations as well.

Predators

It may seem like that the North Atlantic right whale wouldn’t have many predators in the animal world since they’re one of the most enormous creatures in the ocean. While they don’t have many predators, they aren’t completely invulnerable.

Typically, calves are the targets of predators since they’re considerably smaller than adults. The most common predators are sharks and killer whales. When right whales feel threatened, they’ll band together in a circle. They form the ring with their tails out, and they lash their tails to ward off the predator. They may also move to shallow water in an attempt to getaway.

Other Threats

While most of the threats against the right whale are caused by humans, they can also suffer from skin lesions and parasites. If too many parasites attach to a whale, it can cause problems for its skin.

Conservation Status

The current conservation status of the North American right whale is listed as endangered. There are less than 400 right whales left in the world, and the females seem to be dying off more rapidly. Scientists estimate that there are less than 100 female whales who are of breeding age.

Without significant changes, these whales are in danger of becoming extinct very soon. Conservationists are working on setting up designated, protected habitats for the right whales to keep them safe.

Fun Facts About the North Atlantic Right Whale

• The North Atlantic right whale gets its name from the whalers who hunted it. They named it the right whale because it was the “right” one to go after.
• North atlantic right whales are among the slowest of the species. They travel at a leisure two knots per hour and only get as fast as five knots per hour.
• Their classification name means “true whale of ice” or “good.”
• Although the animals the North Atlantic right whale eats are tiny, the whale can eat 2,500 pounds each day.
• One of their distinguishing features is the callosities on their heads. They’re the only whale with this feature.
• Callosities are also unique to each whale. Scientists use them almost like a name tag to differentiate them.
• While the North Atlantic right whale isn’t a social animal and the fathers don’t stick around after mating, the right whale calf is very close to its mother.
• There are other species of right whale, particularly the Southern right whale and the North Pacific right whale.
• 90% of North Atlantic right whales are killed due to human negligence or behavior.