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Belugas
Delphinapterus leucas
Class: Mammalia
Habitat: Icy water of the arctic and subarctic
Length: 11-15 feet
Weight: 3,000-3,300 pounds
Gestation: 14-15 months, 1 calf
Diet: Octopus, squid, crabs
Photo © Matt L./Information provided by Mystic Aquarium & Institute for Exploration
Canary of the Sea
Beluga whales are classified as toothed whales, which makes them more closely related to dolphins than to the large baleen whales. They are also known as white whales, and "beluga" derives from the Russian word for white. Beluga whales are a very social species and can be found in pods numbering from a few individuals to several hundred. Typically, females and juveniles travel together in groups, separately from groups of adult males.
Flexible Neck
The seven neck vertebrae of beluga whales are not fused, which is different to other cetacean species. As a result, beluga whales can move their head in greater mobility. Beluga whales are superbly adapted to their arctic environment. Their light gray to white coloration serves as camouflage in their ice-covered environment. They are insulated against the cold arctic waters by a blubber layer that can be 4-6 inches thick. The dorsal ridge can be used to open breathing holes in thin layers of ice. The broad pectoral flippers allow belugas to be very maneuverable in shallow or ice-congested waters, and give them the unique ability to swin backwards.
Conservation
Natural predators of beluga whales are killer whales and polar bears. Major threats to the number of belugas in the wild include pollution and destruction of habitat. While beluga whales are not listed as a threatened or endangered species, sveral populations face serious problems. A notable example is the small population in the St. Lawrence Sea Way, where the beluga population was initially reduced in size by hunting but now faces a serious threat from pollution.
Class: MammaliaHabitat: Icy water of the arctic and subarctic
Length: 11-15 feet
Weight: 3,000-3,300 pounds
Gestation: 14-15 months, 1 calf
Diet: Octopus, squid, crabs
Photo © Matt L./Information provided by Mystic Aquarium & Institute for Exploration
Canary of the Sea
Beluga whales are classified as toothed whales, which makes them more closely related to dolphins than to the large baleen whales. They are also known as white whales, and "beluga" derives from the Russian word for white. Beluga whales are a very social species and can be found in pods numbering from a few individuals to several hundred. Typically, females and juveniles travel together in groups, separately from groups of adult males.
Flexible Neck
The seven neck vertebrae of beluga whales are not fused, which is different to other cetacean species. As a result, beluga whales can move their head in greater mobility. Beluga whales are superbly adapted to their arctic environment. Their light gray to white coloration serves as camouflage in their ice-covered environment. They are insulated against the cold arctic waters by a blubber layer that can be 4-6 inches thick. The dorsal ridge can be used to open breathing holes in thin layers of ice. The broad pectoral flippers allow belugas to be very maneuverable in shallow or ice-congested waters, and give them the unique ability to swin backwards.
Conservation
Natural predators of beluga whales are killer whales and polar bears. Major threats to the number of belugas in the wild include pollution and destruction of habitat. While beluga whales are not listed as a threatened or endangered species, sveral populations face serious problems. A notable example is the small population in the St. Lawrence Sea Way, where the beluga population was initially reduced in size by hunting but now faces a serious threat from pollution.
Animal Info
Beluga whales can be seen at the Mystic Aquarium & Institute for Exploration.
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