General Description
Body blue-black with white patches underneath. Head wide, with white callosities (calluses) above and below the mouth and near the eyes and on top of head. Mouth curves down. Water vapour is sprayed from the blowhole forming a "V" shape spray less than 5 m high. Up to 18 m long.
Biology
Southern Right Whales can dive underwater for about 15 minutes. They do not feed in Australian waters. The females give birth to a young calf every three years, which swims at the mother's side for up to twelve months. Deaths have been reported from being tangled in fishing nets and from collisions with ships. They feed on plankton, krill and copepods (small crustaceans).
Distribution
Southern temperate to subpolar waters including marine areas of southern Australia from May to October.
Habitat
Temperate and polar oceans, near coastlines.
More Information
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Animal Type
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Animal SubType
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Brief Id
Blue-black, white patches underneath, white growths on head, "V" shape blow.
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Maximum Size
18 m
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Habitats
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Diet
Plankton or Particles
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Diet Categories
Copepods, Krill
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Endemicity
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Commercial
No
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Conservation Statuses
FFG Threatened List: Endangered, EPBC Act 1999: Endangered, IUCN Red List: Least Concern, CITES: Trade restrictions (Appendix I)
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Depths
Shallow (1-30 m), Deep ( > 30 m)
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Water Column Locations
Surface, Midwater
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Taxon Name
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Common Name
Southern Right Whale
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Kingdom
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Phylum
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Subphylum
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Class
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Order
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Suborder
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Family
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Genus
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Species Name
australis
