WHALES OF THE SAPPHIRE COAST
SOUTHERN RIGHT WHALE - EUBALAENA AUSTRALIS (BALEEN)
SO NAMED THE RIGHT WHALE BECAUSE OF ITS HIGH OIL YIELD AND ITS
VERY FINE SILKY BALEEN THAT MADE IT THE "RIGHT" WHALE TO HUNT.
IT WAS HEAVILY FISHED FOR AT LEAST 300 YEARS AND IS STILL RARE
TODAY.
ORIGINALLY CONSIDERED A SUBSPECIES OF THE NORTHERN RIGHT
WHALE, THE SLOW SWIMMING SOUTHERN OR BLACK RIGHT WHALE
LOOKS
IDENTICAL TO IS
NORTHERN
COUNTERPART.
EASILY
DISTINGUISHABLE FROM OTHER WHALES MAINLY BY THEIR LONG
BALEENS, WITH THAT SILKY TEXTURE TO THE BRISTLES.
THE BODY IS FAT AND STOCKY, AND IS DISTINCTLY RECOGNIZED WITH ITS SKIN THICKENINGS OR
CALLOSITIES (HOME TO SPECIALISED WHALE LICE AND BARNACLES) ON THE UPPER AND LOWER
JAWS AND ABOVE THE EYE. THE CALLOSITY ON THE UPPER JAW IS OFTEN CALLED THE BONNET.
THE SOUTHERN RIGHT WHALE IS OFTEN DIFFERENTIATED BY HAVING NO DORSAL FIN AS
RECOGNISED ON HUMPBACKS. THE PECTORAL FINS ARE PADDLE-SHAPED AND THE FLUKES ARE REALLY
LONG, NARROW AND POINTED. THE BODY OF THE YOUNG ARE SOME WHAT PALER, DARKENING IN
ADULTS TO BLACK WITH WHITE PATCHES WHERE SKIN HAS SLOUGHED OFF. THERE ARE 225 TO 250
BALEEN PLATES UP TO 2.2 METRES LONG IN EACH SIDE OF THE UPPER JAW.
SIZE OF CALVES ARE FIVE TO SIX METRES LONG AT BIRTH AN AVERAGE OF FIFTEEN METRES AT
MATURITY. INDIVIDUALS UP TO 17.7 METRES HAVE BEEN RECORDED. CALVES ARE BORN IN WINTER
AFTER A TWELVE MONTH GESTATION PERIOD AND ARE SUCKLED UNTIL THEY REACH ABOUT 8.5
METRES IN LENGTH. SEXUAL MATURITY IS REACHED AT FIFTEEN METRES IN MALES AND SIXTEEN
METRES IN FEMALES. THERE APPEARS TO BE A THREE YEAR CALVING INTERVAL.
SOUTHERN RIGHTS ARE SLOW SWIMMERS THAT DO NOT NORMALLY EXPOSE LARGE AMOUNTS OF
BODY AND BREACHING OR LEAPING OUT OF THE WATER IS INFREQUENT IN ADULTS BUT CAN
SOMETIMES BE SEEN AS LONG SEQUENCES IN THE PLAYFUL JUVENILES AND YOUNG.
IT WAS SOME TIME BEFORE EXPERTS REALISED THAT NEARLY ALL THE ANIMALS CLOSE TO
SHORELINES WERE IN FACT PREGNANT FEMALES, AND MOSTLY MOTHERS WITH CALVES. WHALERS
IN THEIR DAY HAD NO COMPUNCTION IN KILLING THE CALVES TO MAKE IT EASIER TO ATTACK THE
MOTHER, AND THE COMBINATION OF THESE TWO MORALITIES ALONG WITH CATCHES ON THE HIGH
SEAS PROVED SOMEWHAT DEVASTATING IN DEPLETION OF STOCK.
HABITAT - WIDELY DISTRIBUTED (THOUGH RARE) THROUGHOUT THE ANTARCTIC, AUSTRALIA, NEW
ZEALAND, SOUTHERN SOUTH AMERICA, SOUTH AFRICA AND HIGH LATITUDES OF THE INDIAN
OCEAN.
DIET - A SELECTIVE FEEDER ON SMALL PLANKTONIC CRUSTACEANS, MAINLY COPEPODS AND KRILL.
HUMPBACK - MEGAPTERA NOVAEANGLIAE (BALEEN)
THE HUMPBACK HAS A STOCKY WELL ROUNDED BODY NARROWING TO
A SLENDER TAIL STOCK. THE HEAD IS MASSIVE AND MARKED WITH
PROTUBERANCES CONTAINING HAIR FOLLICLES, PROVIDING SITES
FOR BARNACLES AND WHALE LICE. THE HUGE PECTORAL FINS EASILY
DIFFERENTIATE THE HUMPBACK AND MAY BE AS MUCH AS A THIRD OF
THE TOTAL BODY LENGTH. AN INTRIGUING EXAMPLE OF HUMPBACK
BEHAVIOUR IN WHICH THE SPECIES GOT ITS NAME MEGAPTERA OR GREAT WING, WHERE THE LARGE
PECTORAL FIN IS WAVED IN THE AIR WHILE THE WHALE LEAPS CLEAR ABOVE THE SURFACE.
THE BODY IS BLACK EXCEPT FOR PATCHES ON THE CHIN, THROAT, BELLY AND FLUKES AND ONE
OR BOTH SURFACES OF THE PECTORAL FINS WHICH ARE BROADLY SERRATED ON THE LEADING
EDGE, IN CONTRAST WITH THE FLUKES, WHICH ARE UNIQUE AMONG WHALES, SERRATED ON
THEIR TRAILING EDGES.
SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE HUMPBACKS TEND TO HAVE MORE EXTENSIVE WHITE PIGMENTATION
THAN THOSE OF THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE. SCARS, BARNACLES AND SHARK BITES ARE
COMMON ON THE BODY. THERE ARE 14-22 DEEP THROAT GROOVES AND 270 - 400 BLACKISH
BROWN BALEEN PLATES UP TO 80 CENTIMETRES LONG IN EACH SIDE OF THE UPPER JAW.
AT BIRTH CALVES ARE FOUR TO FIVE METRES IN LENGTH AND REACH 19 METRES. THEY WEIGH
A MASSIVE 48 TONNES AT MATURITY. REACHING 11 AND 12 METRES IN MALES AND 12 METRES
IN FEMALES. FOUND IN ALL OCEANS TO THE EDGE OF ICE PACKS, BUT HIGHLY MIGRATORY
BETWEEN POLAR WATERS IN SUMMER AND TROPICAL WATERS IN WINTER. GROUPS OF FOUR
TO TWELVE ANIMALS ARE COMMON.
FEEDING ON KRILL, SARDINES, MACKEREL, ANCHOVIES AND OTHER SMALL SCHOOLING FISHES.
SONGS THAT ARE SUNG ARE USUALLY DONE SO BY SOLITARY WHALES WHICH USUALLY CEASE
WHEN JOINING OTHER WHALES. IT APPEARS THAT IT HOLDS SOME FORM OF COURTSHIP
DISPLAY. WHEN (PRESUMABLY MALE) WHALES CONGREGATE AROUND A FEMALE, THEY FIGHT
FOR THE PRIME POSITION NEAR THE FEMALE, PRESUMABLY TO INCREASE THEIR CHANCES OF
MATING. FIGHTING INVOLVES ADVERSARIES LUNGING AT EACH OTHER SOMETIMES WITH
THEIR PLEATS EXTENDED TO APPEAR LARGER AND A MORE FEARFUL COMPETITOR, STRIKING
EACH OTHER WITH THEIR FLUTES.
LESS DRAMATIC FORMS OF BEHAVIOUR INCLUDE LIFTING THE HEAD FROM THE WATER WHILE
SWIMMING, FLUKE SLAPPING AND RELEASING A STREAM OF BUBBLES UNDERWATER (TO
PRESUMABLY TRY AND DISORIENT AN OPPONENT). THESE CONTESTS CAN LEAVE RIVALS
BLEEDING WITH RAW PATCHES ON THEIR BACKS.
BREACHING IS ANOTHER HUMPBACK WHALE BEHAVIOR OFTEN SEEN IN THE SAPPHIRE COAST
WATERS AND ATTRACTS MUCH ATTENTION WHEN A WHALE LEAPS CLEAR OF THE WATER.
VARIOUS INTERPRETATIONS INCLUDE AGGRESSION, INCEPTING ENVIRONMENT, LONG
DISTANCE COMMUNICATION OR SIMPLY AN EXCLAMATION MARK AT THE END OF SOME OTHER
BEHAVIOR.
SPRING ON THE SAPPHIRE COAST CAN OFTEN BE AN ABSOLUTE DELIGHT, WITH MOTHERS
SOMETIMES BEING VIEWED CALVING. MOST GROUPS ARE FOUND WITH FROM 1 UP TO 10
WHALES, SHOWING NO STABILITY OVER TIME. ONLY MOTHERS AND THEIR CALVES FORM
STRONG BONDING GROUPS. THE SIZE OF THE GROUP SEEMINGLY DEPENDS ON THE PREY PATCH
TO FEED. AS PREVIOUSLY DISCUSSED THEY CO-ORDINATE THEIR ACTIVITIES, TO ENHANCE
FEEDING SUCCESS. SHORT TERM COMPANIONS ARE ALSO OBSERVED.
PYGMY RIGHT WHALE - CAPEREA MARGINATA (BALEEN)
THE PYGMY RIGHT WHALE HAS A DISTINCT BOWED MOUTH AND APPEARS TO
BE AN EXAMPLE OF CONVERGENT EVOLUTION. ONLY DISTINCTLY RELATED TO
THE RIGHT WHALE, ITS BODY IS MORE LIKE A MINKE OR BRYDES WHALE, A
LOT SMALLER THAN THE HUMPBACK OR SOUTHERN RIGHT AND HAS A SICKLESHAPED DORSAL FIN.
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF STRUCTURAL DIFFERENCES THAT EASILY IDENTIFY THIS SPECIES WHICH
INCLUDE THE RIB CAGE AND THE PRESENCE OF A DORSAL FIN (TO WARRANT SEPARATION FROM THE
LARGER RIGHT WHALES WHICH HAVE NO DORSAL FIN).
WHEN SWIMMING, THE FIN OF THE PYGMY RIGHT PROJECTS IN MUCH THAT SAME POSITION AND
APPEARS VERY SIMILAR TO THE MINKE WHALE. IN FACT, UNLESS THE DISTINCTIVE HEAD APPEARS
FROM THE WATER IT IS OFTEN MISIDENTIFIED AS A MINKE WHALE. FOR THIS REASON, IT MAY
WELL BE THAT THIS SPECIES IS NOT AS RARE AS WAS FIRST THOUGHT.
ROUNDED AND SMALL PECTORAL FINS WITH BROAD FLUKES. THERE IS NO RIDGE ON THE BACK AND
THERE ARE ONLY TWO, DEEP, WELL MARKED THROAT GROOVES. COLOUR IS DARK GREY ABOVE
BECOMING DARKER WITH AGE, FADING TO A LIGHT GREY SHADE BELOW. THERE ARE 230 YELLOWISHWHITE BALEEN PLATES UP TO 70 CENTIMETRES LONG IN EACH SIDE OF THE UPPER JAW. SIZE
AVERAGE IS 1.5 METRES AT BIRTH TO 6.1 METRES AND 4.5 TONNES AT MATURITY. FEMALES ARE
AGAIN SLIGHTLY LARGER THAN THE MALES. THERE IS NOT A LOT KNOWN ABOUT REPRODUCTION
BUT APPARENTLY IT IS A SOLITARY SPECIES, THOUGH GROUPS OF UP TO 8 ANIMALS HAVE BEEN
OBSERVED.
KNOWN ONLY IN THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE, FROM AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND TO SOUTH
AFRICA, ARGENTINA, THE FALKLAND ISLANDS AND THE COAST NORTH OF ANTARCTICA.
SAMPLES OF FOOD IN STRANDED PYGMY WHALES INCLUDED CRUSTACEANS (COPEPODS) BUT
NOTHING FURTHER IS KNOWN.
MINKE WHALE - BALAENOPTERA ACUTORSTRATA - (BALEEN)
THE MINKE WHALE IS THE SMALLEST
OF THE RORQUALS. IT HAS A
POINTED HEAD WITH A LOWER
PROTRUDING JAW AND A SIMPLE
PROMINENT RIDGE FROM THE TIP OF
THE UPPER JAW TO THE BLOWHOLES.
A WELL SHAPED AND GRACEFUL
WHALE, BLACK ON THE BACK FROM
THE BEAK TO JUST BEHIND THE LONG, SLENDER PECTORAL FINS, BLENDING TO GREY AND BLACK
AGAIN AT THE FLUKES. THE UNDERSIDE IS WHITE. A SICKLE SHAPED DORSAL FIN LIKE THE PYGMY
WHALE BUT DISTINCTIVE WHITE BANDS ON THE PECTORAL FINS DISTINGUISH THE TWO.
THE FLUKES ARE THIN BUT QUITE LARGE WITH 50-70 THROAT GROOVES AND 231-360 CREAMY
WHITE BALEEN PLATES UP TO ROUGHLY 20 CENTIMETRES LONG IN EACH SIDE OF THE UPPER JAW.
CALVES ARE 3 METRES AT BIRTH AND GROW TO ABOUT 10 METRES IN LENGTH AND 9 TONNES IN
WEIGHT. THE GESTATION PERIOD IS 10 MONTHS AND YOUNG ARE SUCKLED FOR LESS THAN 6
MONTHS. THEY REACH SEXUAL MATURITY AT 6 YEARS, WHEN MALES ARE 7 METRES AND FEMALES
SLIGHTLY LARGER AT 7.3 METRES.
MINKES ARE PRIMARILY INSHORE SOLITARY WHALES, FOUND IN COASTAL TEMPERATE WATERS OF
ALL OCEANS, SOMETIMES SEEN AT SEA, WHERE THEY BREACH SPECTACULARLY, EXPOSING THE
ENTIRE BODY. UNLIKE THE LARGER RORQUALS, THERE DO NOT SEEM TO BE MAJOR COASTAL
ASSEMBLAGES IN THE BREEDING SEASON. IN SOME WATERS SUCH AS THE SAPPHIRE COAST MINKE
WHALES CAN BE SEEN IRREGULARLY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR WITH THEIR DISTINCTIVE WHITE
EXTENDING ACROSS THE FLIPPER AND ONTO THE SHOULDER REGION.
THE DIET CONSISTS OF SMALL SCHOOLING FISHES SUCH AS HERRING AND COD, SQUID AND
CRUSTACEANS.
BLUE WHALE - BALAENOPTERA MUSCULUS (BALEEN)
THE BLUE WHALE IS THE LARGEST ORGANISM ON THIS PLANET,
PUMPING 9.7 TONNES OF BLOOD THROUGH ITS ENORMOUS BODY.
ITS HEARTS SIZE EQUALS THAT OF A SMALL CAR. ITS MOUTH CAN
BE 6 METRES LONG, AND THE FLUKES 4.5 METRES FROM TIP TO TIP.
ITS SLENDER BODY IS STREAMLINED PARTICULARLY NEAR THE
CHEST AND HEAD. WHEN THE HEAD PROTRUDES LIKE A BROAD
POINTED ARCH YOU CAN SEE A SINGLE CENTRAL RIDGE FROM THE
TIP TO THE BLOWHOLE. THE DORSAL FIN IS LOCATED WELL DOWN
THE BACK WHERE IT MARKS THE END OF A RIDGE. THE FIN IS
SICKLE SHAPED.
ITS PECTORAL FINS ARE LONG AND SLENDER AND CURVED ON THE LEADING EDGE, WITH THE FLUKES
RELATIVELY SMALL. 300 OR MORE BALEEN PLATES ARE LOCATED IN EACH SIDE OF THE UPPER JAW
AND THE HIGHLY DISTENSIBLE THROAT HAS FORTY OR MORE GROOVES.
THE OVERALL COLOUR IS A GREY TONE, WITH MOTTLED LIGHT GREYISH SPOTS. COLD WATER ALGAE
LIVING ON THE BELLY MAY GIVE A YELLOW TONE.
CALVES ARE AN ENORMOUS 7.5 METRES AT BIRTH AND WEIGH 2.3 TONNES. THEY ARE BORN AFTER 11
MONTHS GESTATION AND SUCKLE AN ESTIMATED 380 LITRES OF MILK PER DAY AND GAIN 90
KILOGRAMS PER DAY OVER A 7 MONTH PERIOD. SEXUAL MATURITY IS REACHED AT 2-12 YEARS.
AVERAGE ADULT SIZE IS 22.5 METRES IN MALES AND 24 METRES IN FEMALES, THOUGH BLUE
WHALES WERE LARGER BEFORE WHALING BROUGHT THE SPECIES TO THE BRINK OF DISTINCTION.
THE LARGEST BLUE WHALE EVER CAPTURED WAS 29.4 METRES. AVERAGE ADULT WEIGHT IS 100
TONNES OR MORE.
FORMALLY A WIDESPREAD AND COMMON SPECIES, BLUE WHALES ARE FOUND IN SMALL
POPULATIONS IN OPEN OCEANS WHICH MAKES OUR SIGHTINGS ON THE SAPPHIRE COAST SO
EXCEPTIONAL AND VERY RARE. IT TOOK VIDEO FOOTAGE, PHOTOGRAPHIC TRACKING AND A GREAT
DEAL OF SURVEY WORK BEFORE ACADEMICS ASSOCIATES BECAME INTRIGUED WITH THIS RARITY
TO OUR REGION. STUDY TEAMS ARE HOPEFUL THIS YEAR, THAT LIKE THE LAST 3 PREVIOUS YEARS,
THE BLUE WHALE WILL RETURN TO THE SAPPHIRE COAST WATERS ON THEIR ANNUAL PILGRIMAGE.
THEIR DIET CONSISTS OF SMALL KRILL SUPPLEMENTED BY SMALL SCHOOL FISHES AND
CRUSTACEANS IN THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE.
FALSE KILLER WHALE - PSEUDORCA CRASSIDENS (TOOTHED)
THE FALSE KILLER WHALE IS TYPICALLY DOLPHIN LIKE IN SHAPE BEING
GLOSSY BLACK TO DARK GREY IN COLOUR, HOWEVER NO DISTINCT BEAK.
THE BODY IS LONG AND STREAMLINED, WITH AN EXTENDED TAIL
STOCK. THE PECTORAL FINS HAVE A DISTINCTIVE HUMP ON THE
LEADING EDGE, A POINTED DORSAL FIN WITH SLENDER AND POINTY
FLUKES. THE UPPER JAW OVERHANGS THE LOWER AND THERE ARE 8-11
CONICAL TEETH IN EACH SIDE OF BOTH UPPER AND LOWER JAWS.
CALVES ARE 1.8 METRES AT BIRTH AND APPEAR TO BE BORN ALL TIMES OF YEAR. THEY GROW TO
AROUND 5 METRES IN FEMALES AND 6 IN MALES AT MATURITY. HIGHLY SOCIAL ANIMALS
SOMETIMES FORMING HERDS OF SEVERAL HUNDREDS AND FOUND IN TROPICAL AND TEMPERATE
SEAS. LIKE SHORT FINNED PILOT WHALES, THEY HAVE BEEN OBSERVED SWIMMING WITH
BOTTLENOSE DOLPHINS. THE SPECIES DOES STRAND OCCASIONALLY.
ALTHOUGH THE FALSE KILLER WHALE IS RESPONSIVE AND PLAYFUL IN CAPTIVITY, LITTLE IS
KNOWN OF ITS REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY. ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY FEED ON SQUID AND FISHES UP TO
60 CENTIMETRES IN LENGTH. THEY HAVE BEEN OBSERVED ATTACKING OTHER DOLPHINS AND SICK
OR YOUNG HUMPBACK WHALES.
ORCA - ORCINUS ORCA (TOOTHED)
THE ORCA APPEARANCE IS TRULY UNMISTAKABLE, BEING THE LARGEST
OF THE DOLPHINS WITH A SOME WHAT ROBUST BUT GRACEFUL BODY,
BOLDLY MARKED IN GLOSSY BLACK AND WHITE. THE BACK AND SIDES
ARE BLACK WITH THE EXCEPTION OF A TEARDROP SHAPE PATCH OF
WHITE BEHIND THE EYE AND A VARIABLY SHAPED SADDLE BEHIND
AND BELOW THE TRIANGULAR SHAPE DORSAL FIN, WHICH IS MUCH
LARGER IN MALES THAN IN FEMALES. THE HEAD IS ROUNDED WITH
NO DISTINCT BEAK, WITH LARGE BLACK PECTORAL FINS WHICH ARE
ROUNDED AND PADDLE LIKE IN SHAPE. THE TAIL FLUKES ARE BROAD
WITH A DEEP CENTRAL NOTCH. HOUSING 10-12 LARGE CONICAL TEETH IN EACH SIDE OF THE LOWER
AND UPPER JAWS.
CALVES ARE BORN 2.4 METRES IN LENGTH AND GROW UP TO 8.2 METRES IN FEMALES AND MALES 9.4
METRES. THEY BREED ALL YEAR WITH CALVES BORN AFTER 13-16 MONTHS GESTATION PERIOD AND
SUCKLED FOR AT LEAST A YEAR. THEY REACH SEXUAL MATURITY AT ABOUT 5 METRES (MALES 6.7
METRES) AND GIVE BIRTH EVERY 3-10 YEARS. ORCAS ARE FOUND IN TROPICAL, TEMPERATE AND
POLAR WATERS. THEY PREFER COOLER WATERS WHERE PREY SPECIES ARE ABUNDANT. THESE
MAGNIFICENT CREATURES ARE OFTEN SIGHTED AROUND THE CONTINENTAL SHELF JUST OFF
SHORE FROM THE SAPPHIRE COAST. OFTEN SIGHTED AROUND MONTAGUE ISLAND AND BY FISHING
BOATS A LITTLE OUT FROM TWOFOLD BAY IN EDEN. THE AMAZING HISTORY OF THE KILLERS OF
EDEN CAN BE REVISITED AT THE "WORLD CLASS" KILLER WHALE MUSEUM.
HUMPBACK AND OTHER WHALES WITH CALVES ARE OFTEN SIGHTED VERY CLOSE TO THE SHORE LINE
AND OFTEN VIEWED FROM THE BEACH OR HEADLAND VANTAGE POINTS. QUITE OFTEN YOU WILL
FIND THERE IS A POD OF KILLER WHALES JUST OFF SHORE, (SIGHTED BY FISHING BOATS) THAT
PRESUMABLY BRINGS THE BALEEN WHALES SO SPECTACULARLY CLOSE TO THE SHORE TO PROTECT
THEIR YOUNG.
THE ORCA DIET RESEMBLES THAT OF A GREAT WHITE SHARK IN ITS PREDATORY KILLING
TECHNIQUES AS WELL AS THE RANGE OF FOOD IT EATS. THESE SPECIES EAT SEABIRDS, TURTLES,
FISHES (INCLUDING SHARKS, EVEN THE GREAT WHITE SHARK), WHALES, DOLPHINS, PORPOISES,
SEALS AND SEA LIONS. ORCAS ARE HIGHLY EFFICIENT AND CO-OPERATIVE HUNTERS, FEEDING IN
GROUPS OF 2-20 ANIMALS, AND WILL HARRY AND KILL BALEEN WHALES MUCH LARGER THAN
THEMSELVES.
ORCAS ARE EXTREMELY VOCAL ANIMALS AND PRODUCE THREE DIFFERENT TYPES OF SOUND WHICH
INCLUDE WHISTLES, PULSED CALLS AND ECHOLOCATION CLICKS. EACH POD HAS THEIR OWN
UNIQUE AND DISTINCTIVE CALLS. THEY ALSO APPEAR TO DEMONSTRATE AN IMPRESSIVE DEGREE OF
SOCIAL COORDINATION WHEN ATTACKING OTHER CETACEANS AND TEACH THEIR YOUNG THESE
HUNTING TECHNIQUES, SOMETIMES PLACING THEMSELVES AT RISK.
LITTLE IS KNOWN ABOUT THE SOCIAL STUDY OF ORCAS OUTSIDE CAPTIVITY. HOWEVER THE
HUNTING STRATEGIES OF THE KILLERS OF TWOFOLD BAY WITH THE JOINING OF THE THREE PODS
INTO ONE LARGER POD SUGGEST THAT PODS CAN UNITE TO FORM A PERMANENT LARGER POD,
SOMETHING QUITE AT ODDS WITH THE SUGGESTION THAT PODS ARE NECESSARILY QUITE STABLE
SOCIAL UNITS.
BRYDES WHALE - BALAENOPTERA EDENI (BALEEN)
THIS WHALE IS A SLENDER, MEDIUM SIZED RORQUAL, DARK GREY
ON THE BACK AND A LIGHTER GREY UNDER THE BELLY. OFTEN
SCARED FROM ATTACKS BY COOKIECUTTER SHARKS. THE APPARENT
INFERTILE, TROPICAL HABITAT OF THE BRYDES WHALE COULD
POSSIBLY PLAY A FACTOR IN ITS SMALL SIZE AND POPULATION.
THERE IS A SECONDARY RIDGE RUNNING EITHER SIDE OF A
CENTRAL RIDGE ON THE HEAD. THE DORSAL FIN IS CLOSELY
IDENTIFIED NEAR THE TAIL STOCK WITH A PROMINENT SICKLE-SHAPED FIN. TAIL FLUKES ARE
POINTED WITH THE PECTORAL FINS BEING QUITE SLENDER IN SHAPE. THERE IS APPROXIMATELY
255 TO 365 BALEEN PLATES UP TO 46 CENTIMETRES LONG IN EACH SIDE OF THE UPPER JAW BEING
SLATE GREY IN COLOUR.
CALVES ARE BORN 3.4 LONG, WEIGH 900 KILOGRAMS WITH THE MOTHERS GESTATION PERIOD BEING
11-12 MONTHS. ADULTS REACH 14.6 METRES AND 20 TONNES IN WEIGHT. BRYDES WHALES HAVE BEEN
SIGHTED IN THE SAPPHIRE COAST REGION, FOUND INDIVIDUALLY AND IN 1992, 4 WHERE SIGHTED
IN TWOFOLD BAY, EDEN.
MALES REACH SEXUAL MATURITY AT 8-13 YEARS OLD AND ARE 12 METRES IN LENGTH. FEMALES
REACHING MATURITY AT 7-10 YEARS AND 13 METRES IN LENGTH. FEEDING ON SCHOOLING FISHES
SUCH AS HERRING, PILCHARDS, SARDINES, KRILL AND SQUID.
FOUND IN THE TROPICAL AND SUBTROPICAL WATERS OF THE PACIFIC, ATLANTIC AND INDIAN
OCEANS. IT DOES NOT GO INTO POLAR WATERS AND ITÍS MIGRATION TRACK RATHER LIMITED
SINCE ITS SEEMS TO FEED ALL YEAR ROUND. IT HAS BEEN OBSERVED IN THE REGION FEEDING
CLOSE TO SHORE ON SCHOOL FISHES.
SPERM WHALE - PHYSETER CATODON (TOOTHED)
THE TOP OF THE SPERM WHALES HEAD PROJECTS WELL BEYOND
THE TIP OF A NARROW LOWER JAW WHICH SLIPS INTO A
GROOVE LIKE A CHANNEL ABOVE AND CARRIES THE ONLY
FUNCTIONAL TEETH. IN THE FRONT OF THE HEAD ABOVE THE
UPPER JAW IS A SPERMACETI ORGAN CONTAINING A WAX LIKE
SUBSTANCE THAT DIFFERS FROM OIL OF THE BALEEN WHALES
AND THIS PROBABLY PLAYS A ROLE IN ADAPTING BUOYANCY
DURING THE CHANGING PRESSURES ENCOUNTERED IN DEEP
DIVES. CALVES ARE 3.7 TO 4.3 METRES AT BIRTH AND GROW TO AROUND 13 METRES IN THE FEMALE
AVERAGING 16 TONNES AND 18.5 METRES IN THE MALE WEIGHING 32 - 45 TONNES. THE GESTATION
PERIOD IS 14-15 MONTHS AND CALVES SUCKLE FOR 2 YEARS. REACHING SEXUAL MATURITY AT 10
YEARS IN A MALE AT 8-11 YEARS FOR THE FEMALE AND CAN LIVE TO 70 YEARS OR MORE.
SPERM WHALES ARE FOUND IN ALL OCEANS EXCEPT POLAR ICE FIELDS, ALTHOUGH DISTRIBUTION IS
DEPENDENT ON THE SEASON AND SEXUAL AND SOCIAL STATUS. NEVER NORMALLY SIGHTED IN
SHORE, AS HAS EVOLVED OVER TIME IN DEEP WATER SO EFFECTIVELY THAT IT IS IN REAL DANGER
OF STRANDING WHEN IT MOVES CLOSE TO SHORE. THEIR DIET CONSISTS OF SQUID, ESPECIALLY
GIANT, FISH, OCTOPUS.