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- Regional Groups
- Species Identification
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Species Identification Guide
Fin Whale (Balaenoptera physalus)
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Length:
6.4m/21.1ft (newborn); 17.5-20.5(26.0)m/57.7-67.8(85.8)ft (adult).
Head and Beak:
Fin Whale have a V-shaped head with single central ridge.
Fin and Markings:
60cm high dorsal fin points backwards, situated two-thirds along back. The Fin Whale body is grey above, white below. Note asymmetric white extending on right side over lower lip, mouth cavity and front baleen plates.
ID:
Fin Whales have a vertical bushy blow 4-6m high, then long shallow roll.
Status and Distribution:
Rare, in deep Atlantic waters from Iceland and Norway south to the Iberian Peninsula, and east into the Mediterranean (particularly the Ligurian Sea). In northern European waters, Fin Whales are most frequently seen in Norwegian Sea west of Norway, north and west of Scotland, and off Southern Ireland to the Bay of Biscay. In coastal waters, mainly June to December.
View detailed distribution maps
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Media
Download Fin Whale movie
No audio available at this time