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Beluga Whales

Physical Traits

  • 13-20 feet long
  • Weigh 1- 1.5 tons
  • 40% of body mass is blubber 
  • Live 35-50 years
  • Have pale skin
  • Can turn neck in all directions
  • Have no dorsal fin and a round forehead
Small Heading

Social Behavior

  • One of the most social types of whales
  • Travel in pods of 10-12
  • migrate and feed together
  • Use vocalization with their bulging head called a melon. (a series of clicks, moans, moos, and whistles) to communicate
  • Use vocalization as echo-location
  • Can mimic almost any noise (including human speech)
  • Communicate through facial expressions by using large head

Calves

Status

  • Gestation period is 12-15 months
  • Calves are 4-6 feet long
  • Born a dark grey or brown, and their color lightens as they grow, they become completly white at around 9 years old
  • Nurse for 18-12 months
  • Beluga's milk is 8 times richer than cow's milk
  • Become mature and leave mother at 4-7 years old
  • Near threatened species
  • Population has decreased by 62% from 1981-1994 due to being hunted (which is now illegal)
  • Threats include: Pollution, shipping traffic, polar bears, and killer whales

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