B+physalus

=Balaenoptera Physalus= =Fin Whale=



Animal Classification
Class – Mammalia Order – Cetartiodactyla Family – Balaenopteridae Genus – Balaenoptera Species – Physalus

Appearance
Fin whales are brownish on top and white on the bottom. They are the second largest mammal in the world at 27m long and weighing about 70,000kg.

Endangered Species Act
Endangered. The fin whale is listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act of 1973.

Habitat
Fin whales are found in the deep waters of all major oceans; most commonly in polar latitudes such as the North Atlantic.

Latitude
30°N to 90°N

Longitude
60°W to 20°W

Migration/Reproduction
Fin whales migrate to low altitudes in the winter to mate. They return back to the low latitudes 12 months later to give birth. They usually give birth to one offspring at a time. The mothers then care for their young for 6-7 months.

Population
It is estimated that there are currently about 53,000 fin whales alive; but that number is currently decreasing.

Anatomy
• The fin whale is second in size to only the blue whale; however it has a much more slender build. • It has a pointed snout and paired blowholes. • It has a series of 56–100 grooves along the bottom of the body. • It dives to depths of up to 250 meters. • It can dive for 10-15 minute periods. • Its spout is vertical and narrow. • It can leap completely out of water. • It is asymmetrical. • Its flippers are small and tapered. • Its tale is wide and pointed at the tip.

Feeding
The fin whale is a filter feeder and feeds on small schools of fish and crustacion. The killer whale is its only predator. Killer whales can attack baby fin whales or defenseless old whales.

Reasons for endangerment
Fin whales were never a target for whalers because of their speed, but as technology modernized they started to be hunted and were over hunted in the mid 1900’s. Even though they are protected now they may still get tangled in fishing nets.

Conservation Efforts
The fin whale was placed in the US Endangered Species Act in 1973 and is protected by the Marine Mammal Act.

Solution
Fishers should be more careful not to catch fin whales in their nets as by catch. It is already illegal to hunt them but nothing is being done to protect them from being accidentally caught.

Scavenger Hunt
1. How much do fin whales weigh? 2. What do fin whales eat? 3. What eats fin whales?