Northern or Common minke whale

What do minke whales 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 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’s life like for a minke whale?

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.

Where do minke whales live?

Common minke whales are found in oceans all over the world. They prefer cooler temperatures, are frequently seen in coastal and inshore waters and are less common in tropical waters. During the winter they typically travel toward warmer waters to breed and in summer move closer to colder waters near the poles to feed.

What do minke whales eat?

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 stocks. Whilst in reality the impact minke whales have on fish stocks pales into insignificance compared to the dramatic and devastating effects of industrial fishing practices, these claims have had severe consequences for minke whale populations.