Common name : Fin-backed whale, Finner, Common rorqual, Herring whale, Razorback
Scientific name : Balaenoptera physalus
Family : Balaenopteridae
Native to : Oceans worldwide
Interesting fact : Fin whales can swim up to a speed of 40 km per hour
Conservation status : Endangered
Measuring 18.5-22.0 metres long, fin whales are the second largest animals in the world. The brownish-grey whale has a prominent dorsal fin, a V-shaped rostrum and paired blowholes. They filter feed on small schooling fish, squid, crustaceans, copepods and krill. They mate in temperate waters during winter, followed by an eleven-month to a one-year gestation. Their lifespan is 94 years.
