Gray whale

Gray whale skeleton

Grauwal

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GrayWhaleByPhilKonstantin

Eschrichtius robustus 01-cropped

Spouting gray whale Yachats, OR (8008163164)

Gray Whale (Eschrichtius robustus), also known as the grey whale, gray back whale, Pacific gray whale, or California gray whale, is a baleen whale that migrates between feeding and breeding grounds yearly. It reaches a length of 14.9 meters (49 ft), a weight of 36 tonnes (79,000 pounds), and lives between 55 and 70 years. The common name of the gray whale comes from the gray patches and white mottling on its dark skin. Gray whales were once called devil fish because of their fighting behavior when hunted. The species is classified under the family Eschrichtiidae.

Description

Gray whales have a streamlined body with a narrow, tapered head. Unlike other whales, they lack a dorsal fin, instead having a series of "knuckles" along the dorsal ridge. They are baleen whales, filtering small organisms like amphipods through their baleen plates. Gray whales are known for their unique feeding behavior, often seen rolling on the sea floor to scoop up sediments and prey.

Habitat and Range

The gray whale is found mainly in the North Pacific Ocean. There are two distinct populations: the Eastern North Pacific stock, which migrates from the breeding and calving lagoons of Baja California, Mexico, to the feeding grounds in the Bering and Chukchi Seas; and the critically endangered Western North Pacific stock, which is found off the coast of eastern Asia. The gray whale's habitat ranges from shallow coastal waters to deeper offshore areas.

Migration

Gray whales undertake one of the longest migrations of any mammal, traveling up to 20,000 km (12,000 mi) round trip. They migrate south in the winter to breed and give birth in the warm waters of Mexico's lagoons, then head north in the spring to their feeding grounds in the Arctic. This migration is not only remarkable for its distance but also for its proximity to the shore, making gray whales one of the most frequently observed whale species.

Conservation

Historically, gray whales were heavily hunted, leading to a significant decline in their population. They were once considered extinct in the Atlantic Ocean and critically endangered in the Pacific. Thanks to international protection efforts, the Eastern North Pacific population has rebounded and is now considered one of the conservation success stories. However, the Western North Pacific population remains critically endangered, with only a few hundred individuals left.

Cultural Significance

Gray whales have significant cultural importance to indigenous peoples of the Pacific Rim, who have hunted them for millennia. Today, gray whale watching has become a popular ecotourism activity, especially in Mexico and the United States, contributing to the local economy and raising awareness about marine conservation.

See Also

• Baleen whale
• Whale migration
• Marine conservation

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