To see photographs of the Beluga Whale (Delphinapterus leucas) click here.
Beluga Whale (Delphinapterus leucas)
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protected: © 2002 Kelvin Aitken.
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Beluga
Whales belong to the Monodontidae family of toothed whales. Calves are
born at 1.5 meters growing to 4.5 meters and 1.5 tonnes.
Belugas can be found in all Arctic and subarctic waters, at times found
in cool temperate bays.
The most obvious feature of the Beluga Whale (Delphinapterus leucas) is
their white colouration, which provides their other common name: White
Whale. This varies from pinkish to pale grey at birth to white when adult,
with older individuals becoming creamy yellow. The head is bulbous with
a short beak making them look as if they have pursed lips which curve
into a smiling rictus. The body is muscular with slightly concave flanks
and a broad sculptured tail which may show dark veins on the ventral surface,
used to dump excess heat into the surrounding water. Pectoral fins are
relatively small spatulate shaped appendages. There is no dorsal fin but
they do possess a smooth raised ridge from about mid body to the flukes.
This ridge may be continuous or broken or split into smaller lumps and
mounds. They posses a single blowhole behind which is a crease that can
be regarded as a neck as they are able to turn their head both laterally
and vertically far more radically, easier and more often than any other
cetacean.
Belugas have a complex high pitched sonar whistle by which they are able
to define much more detail from objects and prey than other cetaceans
which use a lower pitch. Their calls are long and melodious giving rise
to their older name of “Sea Canary”. They are very social feeding
and living in groups of dozens, hundreds or over a thousand. Some pods
are highly migratory while others are resident in restricted zones. While
noted for living in rivers and estuaries, even stranding in the shallows
between tides, they also are found in deep oceanic waters and able to
dive as deep as some other cetaceans. They feed on small fishes, various
benthic invertebrates and crustaceans including crabs and krill.
Predators, besides man, include polar bears and killer whales.