Least Concern

Common Minke Whales

Balaenoptera acutorostrata · also called Lesser Rorqual, Little Piked Whale · Baleen whale

Length

up to 33 ft

Weight

7.5–13 tons

Top speed

21 mph

Diet

Krill, small fish, plankton

The common minke whale is the smaller and more widespread of the two minke species, found in oceans worldwide from the tropics to the edge of the polar ice.

Classification

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Mammalia
Order	Cetacea
Family	Balaenopteridae
Genus	Balaenoptera
Species	acutorostrata

Description

The name "minke whale" derives from the Norwegian word for the species, minkehval. Minke whales are the most abundant whale of their taxonomic suborder and can be found near the surface of all oceans and seas except polar seas.

Feeding

Minke whales are baleen whales, with many bristle-like baleen plates suspended from their jaws. To eat, a whale opens its mouth underwater to let water in, then filters the water back out through baleen so only small organisms remain — krill, small fish, and plankton.

Did You Know?

Minke whales can produce sounds of up to 152 decibels — among the loudest of any animal.

Size & appearance

Minke whales are among the smallest baleen whales, measuring up to 33 feet and typically weighing 7.5 to 13 tons. They resemble dolphins in shape, purple-black or dark grey with white or light grey undersides, sickle-shaped dorsal fins, two blowholes, 50–70 throat grooves, and pointed snouts. Common minke whales have white bands on their flippers.

Diving & speed

Though they can remain underwater for 20–25 minutes, minke whales normally dive for 10–12 minutes before surfacing. They can travel at up to 21 miles per hour for short distances, normally swimming between three and 16 miles per hour, more slowly while feeding.

Communication & social structure

Minke whales are generally solitary but may travel in small pods of two to three. They vocalize to communicate or as echolocation, producing sounds up to 152 decibels via grunts, clicks, thuds and other sounds, and have been known to approach boats.

Reproduction

Minke whales reach sexual maturity between ages 6 and 8, mating most often in winter and early spring, with a gestation period of 10 months. Calves nurse for five to 10 months but may remain with their mothers for a year or longer; females are believed to give birth every two years. Minke whales are known to live for over 20 years.