They can grow up to 6m (20 ft) in length and weigh as much as 1,600 kg (3,500 lbs). Join WWF in Churchill to see belugas in the wild. Beluga whales are stocky in appearance, with a large percentage of it’s body blubber (fat). Polar bears and killer whales are known predators of belugas throughout their Arctic range. Other names it goes by include sea canary due to the high-pitched calls it is known for and melonhead. The whale is sometimes referred to as the white whale due to its unusual coloring. It is one of two members of the Monodontidae family (the other being the narwhal). Threats to beluga whales include climate change, hunting, oil and gas development, and industrial and urban pollution. The beluga whale is one of the easiest to recognize whale species. The vertebrae in a beluga’s neck is not fused together, giving it the unusual ability to turn its head up, down and side-to-side.ġ. They also have a thick layer of blubber that insulates them from the icy arctic waters.Ģ. Belugas, like other arctic whales, do not have dorsal fins (a dorsal fin causes extra heat loss and would be a major hindrance in the arctic ice), but they do have a tough dorsal ridge.
Beluga whale free#
In 2009, a captive beluga whale rescued a distressed participant of a free diving competition by pushing her to the surface.ģ. The beluga can change the shape of its bulbous forehead, called a "melon", by blowing air around its sinuses.Ĥ. A calf’s teeth begin to come in between 1 and 2 years of age. The beluga whale has 30-40 homodont (of similar size and shape), conical teeth. Belugas show sexual dimorphism, with males being approximately 25 larger than females. It can take up to eight years before they turn completely white.ĥ. The maximum adult weight reported is 3600 lbs (1633 kg). The short answer is that beluga whales are extremely intelligent, calm in difficult situations and easily trainable, said Pierre Béland, a research scientist in marine biology at the St. However, these white whales are born dark gray. The word beluga comes from the Russian word "bielo" meaning white. Beluga whales' dives may last up to 25 minutes and can reach depths of 800 meters.ħ. CNN A beluga whale that was rescued after being stuck in France’s Seine River for more than a week died while in transit to the sea, officials have confirmed. The beluga is closely related to the narwhal they are the only two members of the Monodontidae family.Ĩ. Belugas are about 5 feet long at birth and weigh 90130 pounds. Also known as "sea canaries," belugas are one of the most the most vocal of all whales.ĩ. Beluga whales have a very thick blubber layer that can be up to 5 inches thick. Belugas are very social animals, and it’s possible to see pods numbering in the hundreds during a trip to Churchill, Canada.ġ0.
The beluga whale is easily recognizable thanks to its stark white coloring and globular head.
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