Southern Right Whale – Eubalaena australis

, Southern Right Whale, Eubalaena australis

The Southern Right Whale (Eubalaena australis) is a large baleen whale found in the Southern Hemisphere. This species is known for its distinctive characteristics, including its lack of a dorsal fin and its tendency to float when it dies.

Description & Characteristics

The Southern Right Whale (Eubalaena australis) is a robust and massive whale, reaching an average length of 12-15 meters (39-49 feet) for females and 10-13 meters (33-43 feet) for males. These whales can weigh up to 40 tons. Their bodies are characterized by a smooth, black skin with occasional white markings on their bellies and flanks. The Southern Right Whale (Eubalaena australis) lacks a dorsal fin, a unique feature among baleen whales. It also has two large, prominent blowholes on the top of its head.

Habitat and Occurrence

The Southern Right Whale (Eubalaena australis) is typically found in cold, temperate waters of the Southern Hemisphere. Its distribution includes the coastal waters of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand. It is commonly found in marine zones like the Benguela Current off the coast of South Africa and the Patagonian Shelf off the coast of Argentina. The Southern Right Whale (Eubalaena australis) prefers to inhabit areas with a high abundance of food, such as krill and other zooplankton, which are essential to their diet.

Taxonomy

The Southern Right Whale (Eubalaena australis) belongs to the Class: Mammalia, Order: Cetartiodactyla, and Family: Balaenidae. This family also includes other baleen whales, like the North Atlantic Right Whale and the North Pacific Right Whale.

Feeding

The Southern Right Whale (Eubalaena australis) is a filter feeder, meaning it uses baleen plates, comb-like structures made of keratin, to filter out food from the water. Its diet consists mainly of copepods, krill, mysid shrimp, and other zooplankton. The Southern Right Whale (Eubalaena australis) swims with its mouth open, filtering large amounts of water through its baleen plates, capturing its prey.

Associated Species

Image References

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