Distribution

• throughout tropical waters
• inshore and offshore

Diet

• eats shoaling fish

Description

• 13-16 meters in length
• weighs 16-25 tons
• 500-730 baleen plates
• plates max of 60 cm
• 40-70 throat grooves
• about a 3.4 meter blow
• dark gray in color
• white chin and throat
• defined dorsal fin

Behavior

• max of 300 meter dives
• groups of 1-2 animals
• communicate through the following:
  • breaching
  • moans
  • whistles
  • chirps

Population

• 40-80 thousand
• not endangered

Longevity

• about 50 years

Human influence

• never whaled
• only hunted when mistaken for the Sei whale

Other

• also called "Tropical whale"
• very similar to the Sei whale