Order: Cetacea.

Family: Balaenopteridae.

Size: Length- 80 to 100 ft (24-30 m). Female generally larger than male.

Weight: 100 to 120 tonnes, occasionally up to 190 tonnes.

Key Features: Long, streamlined rorqual whale-largest animal on earth; blue-gray with pale mottling; ridge runs along top of flat; “U”-shaped head; 2 blowholes with fleshy splashguard; tapered flippers up to one-seventh of body length; small, stubby dorsal fin; tail flukes broad and triangular; ventral grooves varies from 55 to 100; around 260 to 400 per row black baleen plates present.

Voice: Loud, low rumbling calls that travel long distances under the water.

Breeding: Single calf born after gestation period of 10 to 11 months. Weaned at 7 to 8 months, females sexually mature at 5 yrs and males in less than 5 yrs. May live 80 to 100 yrs.

Diet: Principally krill, but also other small crustaceans and fish.

Habitat: Found in Open Ocean, particularly along the edge of the continental shelves; usually avoid diving deep as principal food krill found in the tip 100 m of the sea.

Habits: Shy and wary; mother and calf travel together, otherwise tends to be solitary; sometimes larger numbers found close together feeding or migrating; may associate with fin whales.

Conservation Status: Species listed as ‘Endangered’ globally on IUCN red list with population of around 3500 individuals.

Distribution in Gujarat: The first incident of Blue Whale stranding was reported on 7th Dec. 1960 at Ganeshgram. After three years again on 23rd Feb. 1963 a 20.28 m long specimen got stranded at Gavier, near Magdalla Port near Surat. Kalumbar Island also witnessed an incident in August 1988.

 

 

 

 

 

References:

• Sathasivam, K. (2004). Marine Mammals of India. Universities Press (India) private limited. Hyderabad. Pp: 40

• Marine Mammals Facts Courtesy: Animal Fact Files- Mammals. The Brown Reference Group Plc.