Description
The Antarctic minke whale is one of the smallest of the rorquals, and one of the smallest baleen whales. Among rorquals, only the common minke whale is smaller, and among baleen whales, the pygmy right whale is also smaller. Length ranges from 7.2 metres (24 ft) to 10.7 metres (35 ft) and it weighs between 5.8 to 9.1 tons. On average, females are about 1 metre (3 ft 3 in) longer than males. Newborns range from 2.4 metres (7 ft 10 in) to 2.8 metres (9 ft 2 in).
The back is dark grey and the belly white. There is a double blaze of lighter grey on each side rising up from the belly. Flippers are dark with a white leading edge.
The Antarctic minke whale differs from the common minke whale in several respects. The Antarctic minke is slightly larger than the common, and the common has a white band in the middle of each flipper. There are also less distinctive differences in body coloration and shape.
Read more about this topic: Antarctic Minke Whale
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