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Estimated Population: N/A endangered
Ways to identify this species: slim and streamlined, bluish grey body with a white underside
Biology
Threats
Ways to identify this species: slim and streamlined, bluish grey body with a white underside
Biology
- Migratory, Sei whales feeds in arctic waters in the summer and subtropical waters during the winter where it remains mainly offshore
- Sei whales are the third largest baleen whales. Adult males measure up to 55 feet and weigh up to 25 tons, females are usually a bit larger
- They are one of the fastest swimming cetaceans and can reach speeds of 31 mph
- An average Sei whale eats about 1,984 ounds of food each day, eating mostly small fish and other organisms
Threats
- After fin and blue whale populations were exhausted, Sei whales became the target of whalers in the 1950’s and 60’s and the population was severely depleted
- Today it still faces threats from hunting and entanglement in nets.
