Beluga Whale
Beluga Whale Facts
| Size | 11-18 feet (3.5-5.5 m) |
| Speed | Up to 14 mph (22 km/h) (short distance) |
| Weight | 1,500-3,500 pounds (700-1,600 kg) |
| Lifespan | 30-35 years |
| Food | Fishes, crabs, mollusks |
| Predators | Orcas, polar bears |
| Habitat | Alaska, Canada, Russia, Asia, Norway |
| Order | Whales |
| Suborder | Toothed whales |
| Family | Monodontidae |
| Scientific name | Delphinapterus leucas |
| Characteristics | White whale with melon-shaped head, no back fin |
Main Characteristics
The beluga whale is a small white whale. It is also known as the white whale. Its most distinctive feature is its melon-shaped head. It is the only whale that can swim backwards. Additionally, it is the only toothed whale that lacks a dorsal fin. Because of its beautiful singing, it is often referred to as the "canary of the seas".
Name
The name "beluga" originates from the Russian word "beluch" or "belyy," which means (surprise!): white!
Family
Although called a "whale", the Beluga actually belongs to the dolphin family! Its closest relative is the narwhal (also a dolphin).
Distribution and Habitat
Beluga whales inhabit the Arctic and sub-Arctic seas. They are particularly common off the coasts of Alaska, Canada, Norway, and Russia. Occasionally, they can be spotted near Iceland and Great Britain. Sometimes, they even stray into the Baltic Sea. They prefer cold waters close to the shore and seek refuge in coastal bays. Occasionally, they also swim up rivers.
Way of Life
Beluga whales are highly social creatures, typically living in small groups of up to 10 individuals. They frequently communicate with each other using sounds such as whistles, squeaks, chirps, trills, and clicks. They also enjoy cuddling and snuggling, which is quite unusual for whales.
Anatomy and Appearance
Size and Weight
Beluga whales measure 11-18 feet (3.5-5.5 meters) in length and weigh 1,500-3,500 pounds (700-1,600 kg). They are nearly twice the size and two to three times heavier than a common bottlenose dolphin.
The 'Melon'
Beluga whales possess a notably large, protruding, rounded forehead. Beneath it lies an organ made of soft fat and connective tissue, known as the 'melon'. Interestingly, the melon can change shape. Depending on how much air they blow in or release, it can expand or contract. This happens within seconds! This ability aids in communication and diving. By the way, all dolphins have a melon, but it is particularly large in belugas and sperm whales.
White Skin Color
Why are beluga whales white? Doesn't such a bright white whale stand out in the sea? Surprisingly, this color serves as camouflage. Among the icebergs and ice floes in the cold polar regions, they are not easily spotted by polar bears. By the way, beluga whales are not born white. They only turn white at the age of four to five years. The young ones are grayish-brown to black until then.
Flexible Head
Beluga whales have a very flexible head because their cervical vertebrae are not rigidly connected. This makes them unique among all toothed whales. They can turn their heads up, down, and sideways. This helps them use even small holes in the ice for breathing.
No Dorsal Fin
Unlike other dolphins, beluga whales do not have a dorsal fin. Why is that? They often swim very close under thick ice sheets. A dorsal fin would get in the way. Additionally, they live in very cold waters and would lose unnecessary heat through the fin.
An Icebreaker on the Back
Instead of a dorsal fin, beluga whales have a bony ridge on their back. It acts like an icebreaker. When they need air to breathe, they press their backs against the ice and break it open.
Thick Blubber
Like almost all whales, beluga whales have a layer of fat that keeps them warm. This is called "blubber". In belugas, it can be up to 9 inches (22 cm) thick. This is quite a lot compared to their body size, as normally only large baleen whales like humpback whales, gray whales, and fin whales have such thick blubber. The thickest blubber belongs to the bowhead whale: 20 inches (50 cm).
Adaptation to Habitat
Beluga whales are perfectly suited to their environment:
- White color – camouflage in the white Arctic/Antarctic
- Movable head – aids in breathing at small ice holes
- Melon – assists in diving Thick layer of blubber – keeps warm
- No dorsal fin – makes swimming under the ice easier
- Bony ridge on the back – icebreaker to create breathing holes
Diet
Beluga whales are carnivores. They primarily feed on fish such as salmon, herring, and cod. Additionally, they consume squid, shrimp, crustaceans, and mollusks.
Behavior
Beautiful Songs
Beluga whales are known as the "canaries of the sea". They love to sing and produce a wide variety of sounds. They can gurgle, moo, meow, chirp, trill, whistle, twitter, and squeak. Their sounds are also clearly audible above water.
Joyful Bubble Rings
Beluga whales create air bubbles with their mouths underwater to express their emotions. When they are relaxed and happy, they form small rings of bubbles.
They Love to Cuddle
This is quite unusual for whales: Beluga whales enjoy cuddling and snuggling. They do this especially while playing, but they often seek physical contact with their peers at other times.
Sleeping with One Hemisphere of the Brain
Like many marine mammals, the beluga whale sleeps with only one hemisphere of its brain. Why? It needs to breathe consciously and requires the other hemisphere to avoid forgetting to breathe.
Winter Skin Instead of Winter Fur
Land animals have winter fur, but the beluga whale has winter skin! In winter, it thickens on the back and fins to keep it well protected from the cold. The color also changes: it becomes more yellow. In summer, it rubs off the thicker skin against rocks and pebbles.
Are Beluga Whales Dangerous?
Beluga whales are very peaceful and friendly creatures. They are quite curious, which is why they often approach boats. In 2009, a beluga whale even saved a person who was having a leg cramp by lifting him to the surface. However, they are wild animals and can behave unexpectedly. While there has never been a case of a human being injured, they could theoretically strike with their tail if they feel threatened.
Senses and Abilities
"Facial Expressions"
Beluga whales can change the size and shape of their melon (the large organ on their forehead). They do this not only to dive better but also to express their emotions. It looks funniest when they shake their half-filled melon back and forth – because the soft tissue jiggles and wobbles like jelly. They do this when courting a partner.
Echolocation
Beluga whales use echolocation to navigate. They produce clicking sounds that they send out in different directions. When the sounds hit an obstacle, they bounce back, creating a sort of acoustic map of their surroundings. They also use this method to locate prey. Bats do exactly the same thing.
Senses
The most important sense for beluga whales is their hearing. However, they can also see well and have a very good sense of touch.
Diving
Beluga whales can dive as deep as 2,860 feet (872 meters) and stay underwater for up to 20 minutes. However, they usually prefer shallower depths and typically dive for only 2 to 5 minutes.
Swimming Backwards
Unlike other whales, beluga whales are capable of swimming both forwards and backwards.
Speed
Beluga whales tend to move at a leisurely pace, swimming at about 6 mph (9 km/h). Even a slow cyclist could easily outpace them. They only speed up when threatened or hunting for prey, reaching speeds of up to 14 mph (22 km/h), which they can maintain for as long as 15 minutes.
Intelligence
Beluga whales are quite intelligent. They can recognize themselves in mirrors, indicating a level of self-awareness. Are they smarter than dolphins? It's hard to say. Both species possess unique skills that are crucial for their survival. Dolphins are more strategic thinkers and problem solvers, while belugas excel in communication and social interactions.
Life Expectancy
Beluga whales typically live for about 30-35 years in the wild. They can actually reach up to 70 years of age, but they often die earlier. The main reason for this is human activities. In captivity, they usually only survive 3-5 years – the stress is too much for these sensitive creatures. Therefore, if you care about these animals, please avoid visiting zoos that have beluga whales.
Enemies and Threats
Natural Enemies
The natural predators of the beluga whale are polar bears and orcas.
Human Impact
The greatest threat to beluga whales comes from human activities. Fortunately, hunting them is banned in most countries. However, there are still many dangers they face.
Climate Change
Beluga whales require cold water, but climate change is warming the oceans.
Noise
The noise from ships is unbearable for their sensitive ears and causes them significant stress.
Pollution
The oceans are heavily polluted with toxic substances, especially oil, microplastics, and mercury. Over the last 150 years, the amount of mercury in the tissues of beluga whales has increased tenfold. Mercury is produced by burning coal and oil in power plants, through waste incineration, and mining. It enters the air and is absorbed by the water.
Conservation Status
Beluga whales are not considered endangered at this time. According to an IUCN estimate from 2017, there are still about 136,000 adult individuals left.
Helping Belugas
Beluga whales are not currently endangered, but their numbers are decreasing each year. Assisting them is quite simple. You don’t need to travel far or donate money. Your support starts with what you eat. By purchasing more local products and consuming less fish and meat, fewer ships will operate, resulting in less pollution, reduced energy consumption, and decreased noise. There are delicious and healthy alternatives to animal products.
Reproduction
Birth and Rearing
Female belugas give birth to a calf approximately every three years. After a gestation period of 14 months, the calf is born. At birth, they measure 4.5-5.5 feet (1.4-1.7 meters) in length and weigh 99-165 pounds (45-75 kg). The mother nurses them for two years.
Calves Are Not White
Beluga calves are not born white. They have gray skin at birth and only turn white around the age of four or five.
Menopause
The beluga whale is one of the few species where females experience menopause. This means they are no longer fertile and cannot produce offspring. Other species that may experience this include orcas, narwhals, and pilot whales, as well as possibly gorillas, chimpanzees, and elephants.
Fun Facts
What Does the Whale Have to Do With Caviar?
Absolutely nothing! When we talk about beluga caviar, we are referring to the fish eggs of the beluga sturgeon.
The Beluga Whale in the Rhine
Beluga whales in the heart of Germany? In the Rhine? Yes, it sounds unbelievable, but it’s true. Typically, belugas inhabit Arctic seas, but on May 18, 1966, one swam up the Rhine. It seemed to enjoy its stay, as it wasn’t until June that “Moby Dick” was successfully guided back toward the sea.
Bailey
In the animated film “Finding Dory” by Pixar, there is a beluga whale named Bailey.
Animals in the Same Biome:
Sources:
- „Dive Patterns of Belugas in Waters Near Eastern Devon Island“ (https://journalhosting.ucalgary.ca)
- „Evidence of mirror self-recognition in beluga whales“ (https://academicworks.cuny.edu)
- „AMAP Assessment 2011 – Mercury in the Arctic“ (https://www.amap.no)
- „New Study Reveals Belugas Blow Bubbles Based on Mood“ (https://www.newswise.com)
- „Blubber“ (https://www.sciencedirect.com)
- „Thickest blubber“ (https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com)
- „Do Beluga Whales Have Knees?“ (https://www.youtube.com)
- „Bubble-blowing Belugas“ (https://www.canisius.edu)
- „Mercury stable isotopes constrain atmospheric sources to the ocean“ (https://www.nature.com)
- „Wie Quecksilber ins Meer gelangt“ (https://www.unibas.ch)
