Distribution

• around Australia, South Africa, South America, and New Zealand
• live in polar waters and migrate to sub-polar regions

Diet

• eat copepods
• feed right below the surface

Description

• 14-17 meters in length
• weighs 40-80 tons
• 400-540 baleen plates
• plates max of 3 meters
• blue-black to brown
• identified by callosities on head

Behavior

• Active with breeching, lob tailing, and flipper-slapping
• communicate through the following:
  • moans
  • burps

Population

• 1,500-4,000 animals
• vulnerable

Longevity

• unknown

Human influence

• once whaled
• protected by 1935

Other

• also called "Black Right Whale"
• Often confused with the Bowhead whale