[edit] Guide Note
The Beluga whale is a marine mammal living mostly in the Arctic waters. They are also known as the white whale because of their pale color when they reach adulthood.1 Belugas are very vocal whales with a wide range of sounds. They have been nicknamed sea canaries.2
[edit] Fast Facts
- Habitat: Arctic waters1
- Diet: Carnivorous1
- Size: Up to twenty feet1
- Weight: Up to 2000 pounds1
- Lifespan: Up to fifty years1
- Endangered: Threatened1
- Predators: Orcas, Polar bears and humans3
[edit] Beluga Whale Behavior
Beluga whales are social and playful.1 They tend to form pods of twenty or more with a lone male beluga leading the group.4 However it is not uncommon for larger groups to form during migration or when food is plenty.5
[edit] Mating and Reproduction
At the age of five years, the female beluga whale becomes sexually mature with the males reaching sexual maturity at about the age of 8 years. After mating in the spring, these whales travel to warmer shallow waters.3 After a gestation period of about 14 months the female gives birth to a calve weighing in at anywhere from 110 to 130 pounds.5 The female mother will nurse her baby until around two years of age at which time the baby will be weaned. Female Belugas give birth every two to three years.6
[edit] Related Pages on Mahalo
Whales |
Whaling |
Arctic Ocean |
Oceanography |
Sperm Whales |
Right Whale |
Blue Whale |
Whale Watching
