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    Bowhead whale

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    They hold the title of heaviest animals, weighing about 100,000 kg

    Bering Land Bridge National Preserve

    The magnificent creature roams the icy oceans like a winter beast. The strong skull and a thick insulating layer of blubber seem like a gift from nature as an award to live in ice water. The rigid head enables the whale to break the layer of ice to come above the water’s surface. You might spot a bruised bowhead injured from fishing gear, efforts to break the ice, and killer whale encounters.

    The average recorded lifespan is well over 100 years, with some species making it over 200 years. The longevity could be attributed to this species’ unique DNA repair mechanism. They reach the age of sexual maturity after 20-25 years and give birth once every 3 to 4 years.

    Distribution

    Country
    Population est.
    Status
    Year
    Comments
    Arctic Ocean
    2018
    Atlantic Ocean
    2018
    Okhotsk Sea
    2018
    Bering Sea
    2018
    Canada
    2018
    France
    2018
    Vagrant
    Greenland
    2018
    Iceland
    2018
    Seasonality Uncertain
    Ireland
    2018
    Vagrant
    Norway
    2018
    Seasonality Uncertain
    Russia
    2018
    Svalbard
    2018
    United Kingdom
    2018
    Vagrant
    United States
    2018
    Alaska

    Did you know?

    • Unlike most baleen whales, bowheads don’t migrate and seldom leave polar water.

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    Get to know me

    Terrestrial / Aquatic

    Altricial / Precocial

    Polygamous / Monogamous

    Dimorphic (size) / Monomorphic

    Active: Diurnal / Nocturnal

    Social behavior: Solitary / Pack / Herd

    Diet: Carnivore / Herbivore / Omnivore / Piscivorous / Insectivore

    Migratory: Yes / No

    Domesticated: Yes / No

    Dangerous: Yes / No

    EXEWCRENVUNTLCDDNE
    Least Concern(IUCN)
    World Population 16,000

    3% annual increase

    Added by BioDB
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    Threats

    Habitat destruction / Climate change / Freshwater pollution / Marine pollution / Deforestation / Farming / Fishing practices / Poaching & wildlife trade / Invasive species / Parasites & diseases / Noise pollution / Light pollution

    My ID

    Scientific name: Balaena mysticetus Other names:

    Greenland right whale
    Arctic whale
    Steeple-top
    Polar whale

    Physical traits

    Length: 18 m (58 ft) Weight: 54,500 kg (120,000 pounds) Lifespan: 150 – 200 years Speed: 2 – 5 km/h (1 – 3 mph) When species evolved: Miocene (Neogene) Species evolved years ago: 23 mya Gestation: 13 – 14 months Offspring: 1 calf Pregnancies: Every 3 – 4 years
    Habitats: Marine
    Regions: Arctic Ocean Asia Atlantic Ocean Europe North America
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