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    Balaena – Bowhead whale

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

    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.