They are some of the
smallest
baleen whales, dark gray in color, and they like to live out in the
open oceans. They were too small to be interesting to hunt in the old
whaling days. These are the whales that are hunted today.
Northern
Species
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The
northern, aka Common species (Balaenoptera
acutorostrata)
is smaller than the southern Antarctic species. It is one of the
smallest of baleen whales but they can still be up to 10 meters long
and weigh up to 10 tonnes. The northern species is also known for its
white markings on the flippers. They are curious whales and like
people-watching. Some places to watch them are Husavik in Iceland, Cork
in Ireland and the Isle of Mull in Scotland. Norwegians are still
whaling those whales today.
Southern Species
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The
individuals of the southern or Antarctic species Balaenoptera bonaerensis
are slightly larger, lack the white markings on their flippers and are
found in southern oceans as opposed to the northern species' northern
range. During the summer they are close to Antarctica, while during the
winter they move fiurther north where they share the habitat with Dwarf
Minke. Japanese are still whaling those whales today, under an
ugly cover of "research whaling".
Dwarf Minke Whales
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These
small whales are actually a dwarf form of the nothern species of
Minke Whales. The two, however, live in isolation - Dwarf minke whales are
found in the Southern Hemisphere, between about 10 and 60 degrees
latirudes. This overlaps partly with the southern, Antarctic minkes
that are found between about 60 degrees in the Southern Hemisphere and
10 degrees in the Northern Hemisphere - just north of the Equator.
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