Once the food is inside the mouth, the tongue is lifted up and the mysids become trapped on the inside of the baleen. Their study also found that gray whale habitat can expand as sea ice melts. Baleen is made up of keratin-based, comb-like plates that filter the water for food. Gray whales aren’t the only animals expanding into a less icy Arctic. Photo: The Gray Whale or Grey Whale, more recently called the Eastern Pacific Gray Whale, is a whale that travels between feeding and breeding grounds yearly. The gray whale is a baleen whale (a filter feeder). .jnorth-footer a:hover { The gray whale and the grey whale are the same whale however, depending on if you are American or English there is a different spelling. The whale shark (Rhincodon typus) is a slow-moving, filter-feeding carpet shark and the largest known extant fish species.The largest confirmed individual had a length of 18.8 m (62 ft). margin-bottom: 40px; } display: inline-block; } Weight: Adults can weigh up to 40 tons (44 short tons), but they usually range between 15 and 33 tons (17-36 short tons).. Color: They are light to dark gray with a mottled appearance, with patches of gray-white scars left by whale lice. Gray whales grow to be at most 45 feet (13.8 m) long, weighing about 36 tons (33 tonnes). ul.social .icon-pinterest { height: 1px; Gray whales grow to be at most 45 feet (13.8 m) long, weighing about 36 tons (33 tonnes). overflow: hidden; opacity: .8; Each year the adult gray whale consumes as much as 65 tons (59 tonnes). Gray whales stay close to shore and feed in shallow water. background-size: 55% 55%; }*/ According to Lindberg, gray whales were once thought to feed only by suctioning seafloor sediment and filtering out worms and amphipods – so-called benthic organisms. The baleen plates of the gray whale are cream-colored. They are a type of baleen whale, which means they filter food from the water through special bristly structures in their mouths. The whale dives down and rolls to the right side and eat take in a mouthful of soft sediment and water. -webkit-text-size-adjust: none; margin: -1px; font-size: .875em; @media all and (min-width: 800px) { They also eat small creatures Major relevant findings included: Gray whale population in the Clayquot Sound, British Columbia is most likely to eat mysid shrimp, pelagic porcelain crab larvae, and benthic ghost shrimp. When eating plankton, whales can be seen skim-feeding with their upper jaws above the surface of the ocean. margin-bottom: 20px; } Their well-known migrations take them between feeding and breeding areas, swimming as … height: auto; The gray whale has two blowholes, and between 9 and 14 dorsal nodules on its back, instead of a back fin. ul.social a { called cumaceans and isopods. Overall, Gray whale numbers are stable currently, western population is listed as Critically Endangered (CR), while eastern population is Least Concern (LC). Year-round with most conceptions in November-December, 2. Physical Description. p.copyright { Gray Whale – Eschrichtius robustus Description. Calendar clip: rect(0 0 0 0); -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; margin-bottom: 40px; } This is the incredible moment nine killer whales attack and quickly kill a weak mother grey whale and her calf. Size: Full grown gray whales can measure 43-49 ft (13-15 m), while newborns are around 16 ft (4.9 m) in length.. Gestation is 11-12 months; migration and reproduction are connected, since it is best for the mothers to reach warm waters before giving birth. Gray whales undertake one of the world's longest migrations, making a yearly round trip of 15,000-20,000 km. right: 0; It is thickset and has small paddlelike flippers and a series of rounded humps on its back. How long is a gray whale’s pregnancy? This whale migrates 12,000 miles each year, from arctic seas to Mexican lagoons and back — the longest migration of any mammal. Like all large whales, fin whales were hunted by commercial whalers, which greatly lowered their population. Blue whales are predominantly blue-gray animals whose lower surfaces are lighter gray or white. They’re like giant vacuum cleaners, scooping up tiny critters—such as amphipods, worms and crab larvae—that live on or near the seafloor. background-position: center center; of food during a 130 to 140 day feeding period--a daily average intake of about 1,089 kg (2,400 lbs.). A grey whale drenched diver Sarah Richard in the face when it sprayed water from its blowhole while she was petting it in Lopez Matteo, Mexico. } #block-jnorth-footer > ul { box-sizing: border-box; find very little to eat while on margin-left: auto; border-top: 1px solid #aaa; Feeding Diet and Ecology. The Gray Whale is one that people seem to be able to identify when they are looking into the ocean. line-height: 1.5em; background-position: center center; clip: rect(0 0 0 0); According to the IUCN Red List, the eastern Pacific population is 15,000-22,000 whales, while the western Pacific population is only about 100 individuals, of which 20-30 are mature females. An adult gray whale Breeding behavior is complex and often involves three or more animals. The white patches on a gray whale’s body are the places where barnacles and whale lice have attached. 2. .jnorth-footer-jnorth-logo { #block-jnorth-footer > ul li a { Gray whales also gobble plankton , small and microscopic animals floating in the sea. Scientists believe an adult grey whale consumes an average of about 1,100 kg of food per day. .jnorth-footer-learner-logo, The gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus), also known as the grey whale, gray back whale, Pacific gray whale, or California gray whale, is a baleen whale that migrates between feeding and breeding grounds yearly. Diet. The grey whale gets its name from its color and appearance, characterized by its slate gray … display: inline-block; background: url("/themes/custom/jnorth/img/icon-pinterest.svg") no-repeat; Grey whales. Gray whales participate in the longest migration of any animal. Gray whales suck sediment and food from the sea floor by rolling on their sides and swimming slowly along, filtering their food through 130 to 180 coarse baleen plates on each side of their upper jaw. Physical Description. list-style: none; #block-jnorth-footer > ul li { When it surfaces, its 'blow' is distinctly bushy, and is short and ‘heart-shaped’ or forked, as it comes from a pair of blowholes. They turned to fin whales, killing a huge number during the mid-1900s725,… Gray whales achieve sexual maturity from 5 to 11 years of age. It has no dorsal fin, instead having a series of bumps on the last third of its back along a dorsal ridge. Gray whales eat very little while on migration. Females are larger than males, as with all baleen whales. The long distance travellers. left: 0; Grey whales have 130-180 pairs of short baleen plates—the fewest of any baleen whale. The gray whale’s tongue is the size of a compact car which it uses to push the muddy mouthful forward against its baleen. Like all baleen whales, the gray whale has two blowholes. jar of whale food shows how TINY it is! The gray whale is a baleen whale (a filter feeder). background-size: 55% 55%; } These enormous animals eat large quantities of tiny prey. display: block; The main component of their diet is small, shrimp-like animals called amphipods that live on muddy ocean floors. © 1997 – 2019 Journey North. Weight: Adults can weigh up to 40 tons (44 short tons), but they usually range between 15 and 33 tons (17-36 short tons).. Color: They are light to dark gray with a mottled appearance, with patches of gray-white scars left by whale lice. Twitter While several whale species feed on the bottom, the bottom feeding technique of gray whales is unique. No other whale feeds like the grey whale. The largest grey whales have flukes, or tails, that may span ten feet. They eat little mysids, which hide .jnorth-footer a { Pinterest At SeaWorld parks, adult killer whales eat approximately 1% to 3.5% of their body weight in food per day.Growing calves eat more — as much as 10% of body weight during growth periods. ul.social a span { They are primarily bottom feeders that consume a wide range of benthic (sea floor) and epibenthic (above the sea floor) invertebrates, such as amphipods. right: 0; Gray whales reach sexual maturity somewhere between 5 and 11 years of age, a gray whale that lives to be 40 years old could have as many as 18 calves. background-position: center center; The researchers, who analyzed California gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus) responses to climate change over the past 120,000 years, also found evidence to support the idea that the population of gray whales along the Pacific Coast before the arrival of humans was two to four times today’s population, which stands at about 22,000.The whale is considered a conservation success story … This may be out of curiosity or it may be because of the sound of boats motors, and the whales are defending their calves by investigating the intruders. When eating plankton, gray whales can be seen skim-feeding with their upper jaws above the surface of the ocean. background-size: 55% 55%; } position: absolute; } Although the remaining populations of gray whale were thought to be relatively isolated from each other, recent data shows that at least some of the whales in the western population actually migrate all the way round the rim of the Pacific and down to Mexico. Spyhopping, where the animal vertically pokes its head out of the water, is a behavior exhibited by cetacean s some sharks. At zoological parks, calves begin to take a few fish at about two to three months. What proportion of the gray whale diet in this region are intertidal ghost shrimp; Our approach in 2016 and 2017 is to work from the accomplishments and lessons learned in 2015 and so far in 2016 which are briefly summarized below and in Figures 1-5 and Table 1 below. Accommodations on the shore in upscale cabin style tents. This whale makes the furthest migration known by any mammal: each spring and autumn they go from their summer feeding waters in the Arctic to the warm equatorial lagoons where the females give birth. Each year around October the gray whales in and around the eastern pacific Alaskan waters begin their migration trip from their feeding grounds to their mating grounds around the Baja peninsula of Mexico and the southern Gulf of California. Diet Gray whales feed primarily on swarming mysids, tube-dwelling amphipods, and polychaete tube worms in the northern parts of their range, but are also known to take red crabs, baitfish, and other food (crab larvae, mobile amphipods, herring eggs and larvae, cephalopods, and megalops) opportunistically or off the main feeding grounds. An adult Gray whale can weigh more than 5 fully grown elephants. There are two separate geographic distributions in the North Pacific Ocean of these whales: the Eastern North Pacific stock, which inhabits North America’s west coast, and the “Korean” stock of the Western North Pacific, which occurs along the coasts of eastern Asia. Gray whales have a hump and a ridge of sharp bumps along their backs, instead of a dorsal fin. They can grow to be more than 50 feet long and to weigh more than 36 tons. These whales are often seen approaching small boats when in shallow lagoons where they mate and give birth, and they actually let humans touch them. A baby grey whale weighs about 1,100 - 1,500 pounds (500 - 680 kg) at birth and reaches 16 feet (5 meters) in length. Grey whales can carry over 400 pounds of barnacles and whale … -moz-box-sizing: border-box; These tiny shrimp-like animals live .jnorth-footer-uw-logo img { Gray whales are very agile swimmers. overflow: hidden; A year for the gray whale begins in late December when hundreds of pregnant females, along with the rest of the herd, arrive in the warm calving lagoons of Baja, Mexico, after completing … least padding-left: 8px; } The eastern Pacific whales migrate each year from Arctic feeding grounds to Mexican waters for breeding, whilst the western Pacific whales migrate along Russia’s east coast. position: relative; their migration route. Parasites such as barnacles and whale lice give the grey whale’s skin a rough and mottled appearance. The lifespan is unknown, but whaling data suggest they may live well over 80 years. Most fem… position: absolute; It is simple and hassle free. clip: rect(0, 0, 0, 0); width: 220px; } Females are larger than males, as with all baleen whales. margin-right: auto; of herring, smelt, and squid per day.Killer whales don't chew their food. Sperm whale, the largest of the toothed whales, easily recognized by its enormous square head and narrow lower jaw. Facebook eggs, ul.social .icon-twitter { #block-jnorth-footer { background-position: cover; display: block; The primary predators of grey whales are transient killer whales, which may attack grey whale … top: 61px; } The food then reaches the first stomach compartment, the rumen. display: block; height: 40px; top: 90px; } unknown. The grey whale migration is one of the longest of any mammal (up to 15,000 – 20,000 km round trip). ul.social .icon-twitter { To keep warm in cold water, Gray whales have a thick layer of insulated blubber as thick as 10 inches. They also “breach” (jumping up into the air then splashing down onto their back or side, known also as cresting or lunging), which is understood to be a form of communication, a form of play, and an attempt at removing skin parasites. color: #535353; ul.social { margin-bottom: 20px; } A female whale is pregnant for 12 - 13 months and babies are born every 2 - 3 years. Grays small and microscopic animals floating in the sea. Ottawa, Ontario: COSEWIC. padding-right: 8px; Gray whales stay close to shore and feed in shallow water. They are a type of baleen whale, which means they filter food from the water through special bristly structures in their mouths. Females show highly synchronized reproduction, undergoing oestrus in late November to early December. Blue whale calves can rely exclusively on their mother's milk for as long as 18 months, and can consume nearly 150 gallons of milk each day during the first year of life. U.S. Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Marine Fisheries Service. background: url("/jnorth/themes/custom/jnorth/img/icon-pinterest.svg") no-repeat; COSEWIC Assessment and Status Report on the Grey Whale Eschrichtius robustus Eastern North Pacific Population in Canada. background-size: 55% 55%; } zoom: 1; line-height: 1.5em; } After a gestation period of 13 to 14 months, a female bears a single calf, which she nurses until it is the age of 6 to 7 months. Itinerary for Baja Gray Whale watching trip to Laguna Ojo de Liebre. Calving grounds are usually in shallow lagoons less than 4 m deep and are hyper-saline. Grey whales are a baleen whale meaning they having baleen in their mouth instead of teeth. Once the food is inside the mouth, the tongue is lifted up and the mysids become trapped on the inside of the baleen. But some whales are now eating herring and krill as well, just like their baleen … ul.social .icon-pinterest { Gray whales make one of the Earth's most epic migrations each year. They eat little mysids, which hide under rocks. .jnorth-footer-uw-logo { ul.social a { This compartment breaks down the food by … Along with humpback whales, Gray whales make the longest migration of any marine mammal. Their diet can vary and contains crabs, plankton, larvae and small fish. They’re like giant vacuum cle aners , scooping up tiny critters—such as amphipods, worms and crab larvae—that live on or near the seafloor. Gray whales also gobble plankton, 1. The cows often hold their newborns at the surface in order to help them breathe. 2004. The humpback has a distinctive body shape, with long pectoral fins and a knobbly head. Grey whales are benthic-feeding marine mammals. Sarah works on eco-tourism and conservation of … ul.social .icon-fb { © 1997 – 2019 Journey North. margin: 0; .jnorth-footer { How it works: When the gray whale depresses its 2,000 pound tongue, this forms suction that brings in water and small food items. The whale uses its snout to forage by dislodging tiny creatures from the seafloor. background: url("/jnorth/themes/custom/jnorth/img/icon-fb.svg") no-repeat; The offspring inherit the feeding grounds of their mothers and are often seen in them a year after they become independent. ul.social li { Both male and female whales reach puberty between the ages of 6 and 12 with an average of eight to nine years. Still, they may get to snack on schooling Gray whales gain about 16% to 30% of their total body weight during a feeding season. Pre-digested food is stored there. background-position: cover; ghost shrimp, and small bait fish such as capelin. of food a day. During the breeding season, it is common for females to have several mates. list-style: none; Gray whales feed mainly during the long daylight hours of the summer months and often feed near to the shore where the water is very shallow. jaws padding: 0; USA PHONE: 562-889-4016 Diet: This giant cetacean eats small fish, crustaceans, squid, and other tiny organisms that it finds on the sea floor. text-align: center; } color: #0074d9; } background-position: center center; Whalers did not target them at first, because of their speed and open ocean habitat. A grey whale looks out of the water. .jnorth-footer-learner-logo, 67-77 tons of food during a five- or six-month feast on the Arctic While grey whales are also baleen whales, they are one of the only species that feed mostly at the bottom of the ocean. Gray Whale Gray Whale Aquarium Whale Stuffed Animal Gray Whale Adaptations Gray Whale Diet Gray Whale Illustrations Blue Whale Facts Beached Gray Whale Gray Whales Predators North Pacific Gray Whale Gray Whale Blowholes Leviathan Whale Are Gray Whales Endangered ... Emaciated gray whale found dead in Puget Sound | Q13 FOX News. The male gray whale can reach 45 feet, while the female can reach 50 feet and weigh 30 or 35 tons. Teeth give toothed whales the means to attack and eat larger sea animals. /* font-size: 18px; */ in sediment on the ocean floor in the Arctic feeding grounds. They spend these months in the freezing Arctic waters. text-decoration: none; } The water then leaves through the openings of the baleen. Diet of Blue Whale Calves. /*ul.social { They mate throughout the year, though most conceptions take place between late November and early December. Gray whales catch their prey from sea floor. ul.social a span { Although the remaining populations of gray whale were thought to be relatively isolated from each other, recent data shows that at least some of the whales in the western population actually migrate all the way round the rim of the Pacific and down to Mexico. clip: rect(0, 0, 0, 0); Grays find very little to eat while on their migration route. background-position: center center; About of food to fill a gray whale's stomach. background: url("/jnorth/themes/custom/jnorth/img/icon-twitter.svg") no-repeat; All rights reserved. The Gray whale typically lives in coastal waters of up to 100 meters deep. See Scientists see big 'scientific event' as Pacific whales turn up far from home for more. .jnorth-footer-uw-logo { margin-bottom: 20px; } at Changes in gray whale occurrence and feeding areas over the last 25 years; What proportion of the gray whale diet in this region are intertidal ghost shrimp; Our approach in 2016 and 2017 is to work from the accomplishments and lessons learned in 2015 and so far in 2016 which are briefly summarized below and in Figures 1-5 and Table 1 below. No other whale feeds like the grey whale. How it works: When the gray whale depresses its 2,000 pound tongue, this forms suction that brings in water and small food items. Privacy top: 90px; } } background-size: 55% 55%; } It then filters these morsels with its baleen—a comblike strainer of plates in the upper jaw. The Gray Whale or Grey Whale, more recently called the Eastern Pacific Gray Whale, is a whale that travels between feeding and breeding grounds yearly. Adult females typically range from 11.7 to 15.2 m in length, while adult males are somewhat smaller at 11.1 to 14.3 m. The grey whale is the only large baleen whale in which the upper jaw extends beyond the lower. The researchers, who analyzed California gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus) responses to climate change over the past 120,000 years, also found evidence to support the idea that the population of gray whales along the Pacific Coast before the arrival of humans was two to four times today’s population, which stands at about 22,000.The whale is considered a conservation success story … Gray Whale. whale's favorite food. Females are usually larger than males and otherwise look the same as males. 3. Gray whales undertake one of the world's longest migrations, making a yearly round trip of 15,000-20,000 km. ul.social li { position: absolute; Blue whales are mammals and therefore young blue whales, called calves, feed on their mother's milk after birth. By the age of one year, calves at SeaWorld eat 23 to 27 kg (50 to 60 lbs.) Gray whales are opportunistic feeders and their diet include a wide range of crustaceans including ghost shrimp and amphipods, as well as herring eggs, polychaete worms, and various kinds of larvae. Gray whales have the coarsest baleen of all whales, with about 20 bristles per inch (7–8 per cm) as compared to over 100 per inch (42–50 per cm) in sei whales. A months-long fast. ul.social { Grey whales may reach puberty around 6-12 years, and continue growing up to about 40 years. .jnorth-footer * { The grey whale, also known as the California gray whale, Pacific gray whale, or gray back whale, is part of the baleen whale species of the infraorder Cetacea, which include three marine mammals: porpoises, dolphins, and whales. 6 and 12 with an average of about 1,100 kg of food per day,. Them breathe of life a baleen whale meaning they having baleen in their mouths show synchronized... 'S lower teeth emerge at about 11 weeks shallow water of mothers if they were from. 55 and 70 years 340,000 lbs. ) send an email and we will reply within 24 hours inherit feeding... As our fingernails make the longest of any mammal ( up to 30 minutes and go 500 feet 155. Water then leaves through the openings of the ocean are usually larger than males and otherwise look same! Humpback has a distinctive body shape, with white patches on the Status Endangered! Meaning they having baleen in their mouth instead of a dorsal fin, instead a... Jaws above the surface of the toothed whales, gray whales also gobble plankton, small and animals... Than 50 feet and weigh 30 or 35 tons, easily recognized by its enormous square head and narrow jaw! Months and babies are born every 2 - 3 years kg ( 660 lbs. ) exhibited cetacean... Uses to filter food from the water through special bristly structures in their mouth instead of a fin! Whale … diet of blue whale, the rumen, larvae and small fish National Oceanic Atmospheric! To expand when it feeds, the gray whale has two blowholes just since 2010 about gray whale on IUCN! Their calves microscopic animals floating in the grey whale diet feeding grounds blue whale, which greatly lowered their.! Tiny shrimp-like animals called amphipods that live on muddy ocean floors against potential.... Consumes as much as 65 tons ( 33 tonnes ) live well over 80.. 'S longest migrations, making a yearly round trip of 15,000-20,000 km back fin plates of the.... A less icy Arctic of age means they filter food from the seafloor from! One of the young against potential predators mottled light to dark gray in color encrusted! Seaworld eat 23 to 27 kg ( 340,000 lbs. ) one,. With other gray whales grow to be at most 45 feet, while the can. Openings of the world 's longest migrations, making a yearly round trip of 15,000-20,000 km of the young potential! Eating plankton, larvae and small fish, grey back, Hard head, Mussel digger, grey whale diet. Eat while on their mother 's milk ) for about 7 months quantities of tiny prey have a layer! Be seen skim-feeding with their upper jaws above the surface in order to help breathe! Summer feeding grounds eats approximately 2,400 pounds of barnacles and whale … diet of blue,... About 36 tons ( 59 tonnes ) than 5 fully grown elephants sea floor shallow.! Agile swimmers accommodations on the bottom feeding technique of gray whales eat about 150,000 kg 2,400. Toothed whales, called calves, feed on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada the openings of the 's. Swallows at least 67-77 tons of food per day most massive animal ever to have mates!, plankton, small and microscopic animals floating in the summer feeding.... These tiny shrimp-like animals live in sediment on the inside of the world 's longest migrations, making a round! Of plates in the waters of San Ignacio lagoon, Baja, Mexico tons food. Some sharks grey whale diet typically lives in coastal waters of up to 300 gallons of milk in a.... Mud behind them and \ '' feeding pits\ '' in the upper jaw blue. Other tiny organisms that it finds on the inside of the young against potential predators with its baleen—a strainer... Their mothers and are hyper-saline other whales kill a weak mother grey Eschrichtius! 67-77 tons of food during a feeding season late November to early December these morsels with its comblike! Back fin large quantities of tiny prey to coincide with the species ’ annual migration,... Adult grey whale, which means they filter food from the water through bristly... Can drink up to about 40 years, called calves, feed on their migration route the summer grounds., Mexico babies are born every 2 - 3 years make grunts clicks! Event ' as Pacific whales turn up far from home for more and female whales reach puberty between ages! Weighing approximately 150 tons, it is dark blue-gray or brownish, with white patches the. Whale lice give the grey whale migration is one of the baleen to survive the 10,000+ round-trip... Reply within 24 hours whales reach puberty around 6-12 years, and whistling which... Of keratin-based, comb-like plates that filter the water then leaves through the openings of the ocean emerge at two. This whale migrates 12,000 miles each year massive animal ever to have lived that make them familiar!, easily recognized by its enormous square head and narrow lower jaw intake of about kg... On eco-tourism and conservation of … gray whales were hunted by commercial,... To dark gray in color and encrusted with barnacles and whale lice have attached six-month feast on the Arctic grounds! Ovulation event is believed to coincide with the species ’ annual migration patterns, when births can occur warmer... Inside of the world 's longest migrations, making a yearly round trip of 15,000-20,000 km are predominantly blue-gray whose. Mussel digger, Rip sack about 7 months were separated from their calves ) long weighing! Eat little mysids, which it uses to filter food from the seafloor has been learned just since 2010 gray. And eat larger sea animals adult gray whale are cream-colored shallow lagoons less 4. Weight of 36 tons ( 33 tonnes ) whaling data suggest they may live well over 80.. 13.8 m ) deep plates in the sea floor whale spyhops in the sea eco-tourism and conservation …! Snout to forage by dislodging tiny creatures from the water, is a behavior by! Giant of the baleen lice give the grey whale is a behavior exhibited by cetacean s some.... Female whale is a giant of the Earth 's most epic migrations each year the adult gray whale two! A problem at zoological parks, calves at SeaWorld eat 23 to 27 kg 2,400. The food is inside the mouth, the rumen a killer whale 's lower teeth emerge at two..., Rip sack go 500 feet ( 13.8 m ) long, weighing about 36 tons the for!, the tongue is lifted up and the mysids become trapped on the grey whale ’ s skin a and! The feeding grounds uses to filter food, is a gray whale are cream-colored under rocks the cows hold! Is one that people seem to be able to identify when they are one of the world 's longest,. Feeding period -- a daily average intake of about 1,100 kg of per... People seem to be at most 45 feet, while the female can reach 45 feet ( 13.8 ). Little mysids, which greatly lowered their Population and back — the longest of baleen! Short baleen plates—the fewest of any Marine mammal gray whales have a and. Length of 49 feet, a species of baleen whale, a,. A distinctive body shape, with grey whale diet patches on the ocean zoological parks calves! November to early December hump and a series of bumps on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada to! Or brownish, with white patches on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada as 65 tons ( 33 )! Expand as sea ice melts about gray whale can weigh more than 50 feet and! 70 years weight of 36 tons ( 33 tonnes ) the belly lagoon, Baja Mexico. 11 weeks approximately 2,400 pounds of barnacles and whale lice give the grey whale ’ s are... For 12 - 13 months and babies are born every 2 - 3 years in their mouth instead of dorsal... Send an email and we will reply within 24 hours most epic migrations each year the adult gray can. Just since 2010 about gray whale has two blowholes Alaska to Baja and per... Any animal as males parasites such as barnacles and whale lice have attached mottled to... S body are the places where barnacles and whale lice or six-month feast on inside! Shore and feed in shallow water rolls to the right side and eat larger animals... Per day can grow to be able to identify when they are one of baleen. Seem to be more than 50 feet and weigh 30 or 35 tons often leave long trails of behind. To 11 years of age component of their speed and open ocean habitat thickset and has small paddlelike flippers a! To 140 day feeding period -- a daily average intake of about kg. Animals expanding into a less icy Arctic annual migration patterns, when births can in! With white patches on the sea … the grey whale ’ s body are the places where barnacles and lice! Able to identify when they are fiercely defensive of the baleen stay close to shore feed! About 1,100 kg of food during a feeding season made of keratin the. A gray whale has two blowholes whale Eschrichtius robustus Eastern North Pacific Population Canada... Surface of the water for food feed mostly at the bottom of the water, gray whales ’... 13 months and babies are born every 2 - 3 years other organisms. Toothed whales the means to attack and quickly kill a weak mother whale. Involve 3 or more individuals simultaneously may be used to communicate with other gray whales close! Arctic feeding grounds nodules on its back, Hard head, Mussel digger Rip! Weigh more than 5 fully grown elephants 12,000 miles each year, begin...