Eschrichtius robustus
Gray Whale Eschrichtius robustus French: Baleine grise / German: Grauwal / Spanish: Ballena gris Other common names: California Gray Whale, Devilfish, Hard-head, Mussel Digger, Rip Sack, Scrag Whale Taxonomy. Balaenoptera robusta Lilljeborg, 1861, “pa Grason i Roslagan,” Graso Island, Uppland, Swede...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Other/Unknown Material |
| Language: | unknown |
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Lynx Edicions
2014
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| Online Access: | https://zenodo.org/record/6599208 https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6599208 |
| Summary: | Gray Whale Eschrichtius robustus French: Baleine grise / German: Grauwal / Spanish: Ballena gris Other common names: California Gray Whale, Devilfish, Hard-head, Mussel Digger, Rip Sack, Scrag Whale Taxonomy. Balaenoptera robusta Lilljeborg, 1861, “pa Grason i Roslagan,” Graso Island, Uppland, Sweden. This species is monotypic. Distribution. N Pacific, from the Arctic Ocean and Bering8 Sea to Baja Y California, the Gulf of California, and portions of the mainland coast of Mexico in the E, and to the coasts of Russia, Japan, Korea, and SE China in the W. Extinct in the N Atlantic Ocean. Descriptive notes. Total length 1300-1420 cm; weight 14,000-35,000 kg. There are no morphological differences among individuals of the eastern and western populations of Gray Whales. The Gray Whale is a medium-sized baleen or “mysticete” whale that can reach a maximum length of 1530 cm. Females are slightly larger than males at all ages. Distance from genitalslit to anus is wider in males; there are no othersignificant differences in external appearance between sexes. Body color ranges from mottled pale gray to dark gray with whitish to cream-colored blotches. White scars accumulate over time and add to distinctive individual color patterns. Gray Whales are heavily infested with species-specific barnacles (Cryptolepas rachianecti), and three species of cyamids or “whale lice” (Cyamus scammoni, C. ceti, and C. kessleri). Neonates are 450-500 cm long and can weigh 800 kg or more. Head is moderately arched and triangular when viewed from above and averages 20% of total length. Double nares or “blowholes,” characteristic of mysticete whales, are located on top of head just above and anterior to neck. The Gray Whale’s “blow,” or exhalation, is vertical and heart-shaped to columnar in form. Throat possesses 2-7 pleats that allow expansion of mouth cavity during feeding. Gray Whale baleen is pale yellow with ¢.130-180 individual plates, 5-40 cm long, on each side of upperjaw. Back is smooth from base of head to anterior section oftail, ... |
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