North Atlantic right whale

Believed to be only seen by scientists for 50 hours in the last 50 years

Pcb21

North Atlantic right whales can be easily distinguished from other cetaceans by the absence of a dorsal fin on their back, and they are dark grey to black with some white patches on their head and belly.

They also have paddle-like pectoral flippers and a long arching mouth that starts above the eye.
Unfortunately, they tend to stay close to the coast, and having high blubber content that produces a high yield of whale oil makes them once a preferred target for whalers.

They are listed as Critically Endangered and among the most endangered whales in the world. Ship strikes, fishing gear entanglement, and climate change mainly threaten their population.

Distribution

Country
Population est.
Status
Year
Comments
Atlantic Ocean
2020
Baltic Sea
2020
Bermuda
2020
Breeding
Canada
2020
Non-Breeding
Faroe Islands
2020
Presence Uncertain
France
2020
Presence Uncertain
Greenland
2020
Iceland
2020
Ireland
2020
Presence Uncertain
Morocco
2020
Presence Uncertain
Norway
2020
Portugal
2020
Possibly Extant (seasonality: Madeira
Saint Pierre
2020
Spain
2020
Possibly Extant
United Kingdom
2020
Possibly Extant
United States
2020
Breeding: Florida, Georgia
United States
2020
Passage

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Terrestrial / Aquatic

Altricial / Precocial

Polygamous / Monogamous

Dimorphic (size) / Monomorphic

Active: Diurnal / Nocturnal

Social behavior: Solitary / Pack / Herd / Group

Diet: Carnivore / Herbivore / Omnivore / Piscivorous / Insectivore

Migratory: Yes / No

Domesticated: Yes / No

Dangerous: Yes / No