What do gray whales eat

Gray whales reach sexual maturity at five to 11 years or when they reach ft 11—12m in length. Their life span is estimated to be 50—60 yrs. Aging of adult whales has proven to be difficult and studies on techniques for aging cetaceans are ongoing.

Females have a 12—13 month gestation period, and give birth to a single calf every two or more years. At birth, calves average 15 ft 4. Unlike other large whales, gray whales concentrate in shallow protected lagoons to have their young. The most famous of these is Scammon's Lagoon off the west coast of Baja, Mexico, named after the whaling captain who first discovered the calving areas.

Baleen whales take their name from the fringed plates called baleen which hang downward on either side of the upper jaw. Gray whales have the coarsest baleen of all whales, with about 20 bristles per inch 7—8 per cm as compared to over per inch 42—50 per cm in sei whales.

There are — baleen plates that are off-white in color and measure about two to 10 inches 5—25cm long on each side of the jaw. Gray whales are the only baleen whales that are mainly bottom feeders, getting their food by scraping the side of their head along the ocean floor and scooping up sediment. Small invertebrates are captured on the baleen, while sediment and other particles are expelled through the baleen fringes.

They are often seen surfacing with mud streaming from their mouth. Oblong bowl-shaped pits, measuring about three feet by six feet 1 x 2 m are left behind as a record of their feeding. Gray whales eat primarily amphipod crustaceans, and concentrations of 12, to 20, amphipods per square yard have been found in the southern Chukchi Sea and northern Bering Sea where the whales feed.

Gray whales rarely feed while migrating or during the winters in the tropical waters; feeding occurs almost exclusively during the summers and animals live off of fat reserves while breeding.

During feeding, each gray whale eats about 1. Gray whales generally live in small groups of about three whales, although groups as large as 16 animals have been observed. While feeding, groups converge and hundreds of whales can be seen in the same area. Feeding dives to the bottom last from three to 15 minutes. Gray whales are noted for their protective behavior toward their calves.

Gray whales sometimes breach or spy hop, particularly during migration and breeding. During breaching, the whales leap partially out of the water and re-enter on their backs or sides with a large splash which can often be seen several miles away.

By the end of the 19th century it had become commercially unviable to hunt gray whales and during the 20th century numbers recovered as the whales were afforded protection. Today, the International Whaling Commission allows a number of whales to killed by aboriginal hunters in Russia. Between and , the native people of Chukotka were allowed a total catch of whales with a maximum of in any one year.

Historically there were three populations of gray whale, however the north Atlantic population went extinct in the 18 th — 19 th centuries for reasons unknown.

In recent years, there have been sightings of gray whales in locations as remote as off the coast of Israel in the Mediterranean and Namibia in Southern Africa. It is thought that these are just individuals from the Pacific that have made their way through the arctic as reduced ice distribution makes the Atlantic Ocean more accessible. Even though their numbers have recovered gray whales continue to face numerous threats. By adopting a whale or dolphin, by making a donation, or by fundraising for WDC, you can help us protect gray whales from the threats they face.

Gray whale. Eschrichtius robustus. See all species. Gray whales are amazing long-distance travellers, undertaking migrations of thousands of kilometres each year.

Male Female Calf Maximum length 15m 14m 4. What do gray whales look like? What do gray whales eat? Where do gray whales live? The long distance travellers Gray whales undertake one of the world's longest migrations, making a yearly round trip of 15,, km. Distribution map. Can migrate up to 20, Estimated up to 22, Men's Hats. Women's Hats. Kids' Hats. Men's Sunglasses. Women's Sunglasses.

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