Distribution

• throughout all oceans
• mainly offshore

Diet

• eat fish <30 cm, squid, and plankton

Description

• 13.6-16 meters in length
• weighs 20-25 tons
• 636-680 baleen plates
• plates max of 78 cm
• 38-60 throat grooves
• dark gray in color
• hooked dorsal fin 2/3 of the way down the back

Behavior

• dives max of 300 meters
• stay in small groups of 3-5 animals

Population

• about 65 thousand
• vulnerable

Longevity

• about 70 years

Human influence

• once whaled when other larger species became scarce
• protected legally in 1979

Other

• also called "Coalfish whale"