Meet the North Atlantic Right Whale
By Emma Bard
Whale hello there,
Meet the world’s most endangered large whale species, the North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis). This magnificent species plays a crucial role in marine ecosystems, moving Canadians to work toward their recovery for a brighter future for our ocean.
A right whale breaches
(Image credit: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/north-atlantic-right-whale)
This migratory species can be found in Nova Scotian waters, traveling along North America’s east coast before migrating up north in the summer. The cooler waters of the Bay of Fundy off Nova Scotia and the Gulf of Saint Lawrence offer ideal feeding grounds for these gentle giants. Like many of us, they like to escape Canadian winters, and so they make their way down to Florida to give birth to their young.
The scientific name of these whales ‘Eubalaena glacialis’ means true whale of ice, which makes sense, since they are very well adapted to the cool Canadian waters in which they inhabit. These whales can grow up to 17 m long and weigh up to 30 tonnes, with 40 percent of their body weight being made of blubber to help them regulate their temperatures and maintain heat. Some other notable features are their lack of a dorsal fin and the rough white coloured patches on their head and chin, called callosities. As well as being the only whales with callosities on their heads, the callosities themselves are distinctive and allow scientists to identify individuals! The reason these callosities appear white is due to cyamids - otherwise known as whale lice. Yes, you heard that right, whales can get lice! However, unlike the kind humans get, they are a type of skeleton shrimp parasite.
Callosities on right whale
(Image credit: Beth Josephson of NOAA, obtained from NOAA Photo Library)
North Atlantic right whales are one of the world's largest whales, and they eat more than 2500 pounds of food a day! You might expect these animals to eat large prey, however, it is quite the opposite. Interestingly, they are baleen whales, meaning that they don't have any teeth! Instead, they use comb-like structures on their mouth called baleen plates to filter feed their primary food source of zooplankton, such as copepods and krill larvae.
North Atlantic right whales are very smart and social. They typically live in small groups called pods. Whale mothers and their calves have close relationships and exhibit strong behavioural attachments. A study conducted by scientists at Syracuse University, Duke University, and NOAA fisheries even found that right whale mothers whisper to their calves to avoid attracting predators!
North Atlantic right whale with calf
(Image credit: Brian J. Skerry / National Geographic Stock / WWF)
North Atlantic right whales are vital to the health of the North Atlantic ocean, helping to maintain healthy and diverse ecosystems within it. Right whales regulate and maintain ocean food chains. As they migrate, they fertilize the ecosystems they move through with their … poop! The waste products of these whales stimulate the growth of plankton, which in return pull 40% of all carbon produced from the atmosphere and generate over 50 % of the atmosphere's oxygen. Thus, these whales are helping to provide a clean and healthy environment for all animals.
Sorry to krill the vibe, but like I said, these whales are known as the world’s most endangered large whale species. With approximately 370 individuals left, the North Atlantic right whales have been listed as endangered under the endangered species act since 1970. By the 1890s, these whales were commercially hunted and near extinction. Today, the major threats they face remain human induced, but have moved from hunting to entanglement in fishing gear, vessel strikes, climate change, as well as ocean noise which affects their ability to navigate, communicate, and find food.
Threats that North Atlantic right whales face
(Image credit: Illustration: Tatsuro)
North Atlantic right whales are protected by the Species at Risk Act (SARA) and the government of Canada has developed a recovery strategy for this species, focusing on reducing threats, protecting critical habitats, monitoring populations, and involving stakeholders to support recovery initiatives. Additionally, World Wildlife Federation (WWF) Canada is supporting research to better understand the species distribution in the Gulf of St-Lawrence, and working with government and industry to develop new management measures. They established the marine mammal observer network to encourage greater Canadian participation in wildlife conservation!
Emma is a second year student at Dalhousie University. Originally from Toronto, she came to the east coast to major in marine biology and environmental science. With her strong passion for marine conservation, Emma hopes to contribute to the protection of marine ecosystems and inspire others to develop an appreciation for the ocean.