Minke Whale
About
The minke whale is a medium-sized whale, sleek in shape, with a very pointed head. It is dark grey to black in colour with a white underside and has white patches behind the head and a distinctive bright white band on the outer part of the pectoral flippers. Adults tend to reach a length of between 7-9 metres and can live for up to 50 years. Sexual maturity is reached between the ages of 7-10 and pregnancy (gestation) typically lasts 10 months.
Minke whales have an almost worldwide distribution with the majority of UK sightings occurring in Scotland. They feed mainly in shallower water over the continental shelf and regularly appear around shelf banks and mounds, or near fronts where zooplankton and fish are concentrated at the surface. They are also commonly seen in the strong currents around headlands and small islands, where they can come close to land, even entering estuaries, bays and inlets.
Quick Facts
Lifespan: 50 years
Habitat: Coastal and Inshore waters
Food: Crustaceans, plankton, and small schooling fish
Fun Fact: Minke whales are the size of a London double-decker bus
It is the second smallest species of baleen whale. Although first ignored by whalers due to its small size and low oil yield, it began to be exploited by various countries beginning in the early 20th century. It is now one of the primary targets of the whaling industry.
Who We Are
What do minkes look like?
What's life like for minkes?
What do minkes look like?
The common minke whale is the smallest of all baleen whales, reaching around 8 to 9 metres long. Their sleek, dark bodies parade black, dark brown and grey tones with a lighter belly that flashes through the water. Long, pointed snouts and straight mouths create an endearing frown, whilst atop their flat, ridged heads they have not one bu
The common minke whale is the smallest of all baleen whales, reaching around 8 to 9 metres long. Their sleek, dark bodies parade black, dark brown and grey tones with a lighter belly that flashes through the water. Long, pointed snouts and straight mouths create an endearing frown, whilst atop their flat, ridged heads they have not one but two blowholes. Setting them apart from their southern cousins, one of the most fascinating traits of minke whales in the northern hemisphere are the white ‘armbands’ around their flippers.
Common minke whales have between 50 and 70 expandable pleats that run from their throats to their flippers. These pleats expand to take in huge mouthfuls of water and fish that are then sieved through the whales’ baleen plates. Around 20 to 30cm long, the plates hang down from the whale’s upper jaws like a thick-bristled brush and allow them to ingest the food they need.
What do they eat?
What's life like for minkes?
What do minkes look like?
Common minke whales enjoy a varied diet, happily eating krill, schooling fish and larger fish too. Unfortunately, in a bid to support culls, whalers have perpetuated myths that minkes are responsible for the decline in worldwide fish populations. Whilst in reality the impact minke whales have on fish populations pales into insignificance
Common minke whales enjoy a varied diet, happily eating krill, schooling fish and larger fish too. Unfortunately, in a bid to support culls, whalers have perpetuated myths that minkes are responsible for the decline in worldwide fish populations. Whilst in reality the impact minke whales have on fish populations pales into insignificance compared to the dramatic and devastating effects of industrial fishing practices, these claims have had severe consequences for minke whale populations.
What's life like for minkes?
What's life like for minkes?
What's life like for minkes?
Although it’s not unusual for several individuals to be found in close proximity to each other on feeding grounds, such as the Gulf of Maine or west coast of Scotland, minke whales are content in their own company and tend to be quite solitary. Relatively fast swimmers, they are not ones for showmanship and keep their acrobatic skills lar
Although it’s not unusual for several individuals to be found in close proximity to each other on feeding grounds, such as the Gulf of Maine or west coast of Scotland, minke whales are content in their own company and tend to be quite solitary. Relatively fast swimmers, they are not ones for showmanship and keep their acrobatic skills largely to themselves, only occasionally breaching and spyhopping.
Can you identify individual minkes?
As unique as your fingerprints, every minke whale has distinctive pigmentation. Taking pictures of both their dorsal fins and backs, researchers can clearly identify individuals.
Protection
Considered of Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of species and a Priority Species under the UK Post-2010 Biodiversity Framework.
Threats
- Whaling – several countries still hunt and kill common minke whales, including Japan, Norway, Iceland and Greenland.
- Pollution – toxic chemicals from plastics, litter and oil spills build up in common minke whales, seriously harming their health and their ability to have young.
- Fishing nets and gear – common minke whales get accidentally caught in fishing nets and lines, injuring or even killing them.