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| Other Sea Animals | Whales | Fin Whale | Search | Comments | Site Map |
Fin WhaleBalaenoptera physalus
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 The Fin Whale is best described as big and fast.
Photograph of Fin Whale by Leonard Medlock and used with his
permission. |
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Description The Fin Whale is the second largest animal on earth. is Largest is the Blue Whale. With a top speed of 40 knots It is the fastest of the large whales. The underside of the whale is white and the back is dark. The coloration of the head is most unusual in the animal world: the right side of the jaw is white, while the left side is dark. There is white mark behind the head. In this close shot of a Fin Whale notice that the blow does not appear to be a double spout. All the baleen whale have a double spout. Photograph by Steve Mirick and used with his permission. |
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Dorsal Fin on the posterior third of the
animal's back. Flippers are shorter than Humpback Whale and
more pointed. Food A Baleen whale the Fin Whale feeds on a range of foods: cephalopods, fish, crustaceans. |
 Leonard Medlock Fin Whale diving. Does not normally lift tail flukes on a diving. Known to breech and to slap flippers.
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Range Seen in both oceans both inshore and in deep water. |
| Fin Whale showing scars from a boat propeller. Photo by Leonard Medlock. |
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