Southern right whale

Southern right whale - Eubalaena australis

• Family: Balaenidae
• Genus: Eubalaena
• Order: Cetacea
• Length: 13 to 17 m
• Weight: 30 to 50 tonnes

Description of the southern right whale

The southern right whale is similar to the bowhead whale but does not have a patch on its chin. Its mouth is highly calloused, providing a home for parasitic crustaceans. It is also called the Southern black whale, or black whale. In 2001, its population was estimated at 7,000 individuals.

Southern right whale. © eoearth.org

Behaviour of the southern right whale

Mainly found in Antarctica, the southern right whale can also roam the Indian Ocean and the Pacific. It feeds on plankton.