Minke Whale

Balaenoptera acutorostrata

Also known as: Bag Whale, Bay Whale, Common Minke Whale, Davidson's Whale, Dwarf Minke Whale, Lesser Finback, Lesser Piked Whale, Lesser Rorqual, Little Finner, Little Piked Whale, Northern Minke Whale, Pikehead Whale, Sharp-headed Finner Whale, Summer Whale

ALSO KNOWN AS

Bag Whale
Bay Whale
Common Minke Whale
Davidson's Whale
Dwarf Minke Whale
Lesser Finback
Lesser Piked Whale
Lesser Rorqual
Little Finner
Little Piked Whale
Northern Minke Whale
Pikehead Whale
Sharp-headed Finner Whale
Summer Whale

LCLeast ConcernIUCN Red List, 2018

Add a photo

Minke Whale adult, photographed at Lighthouse Bommie - Coral Sea, Australia — @fishx6 · Lighthouse Bommie - Coral Sea, Australia · July 20091 / 1

Overview

Found in family groups or pods, in shallow to very deep open coastal, in-shore and off-shore waters of the world.
They feed on small schooling fish and krill.

This is the smallest whale, and a very social animal and inquisitive of divers.
They can submerge for 20 minutes before coming up to the surface for air.