Minke Whale

Balaenoptera acutorostrata

Last updated: August 10, 2023
Verified by: AZ Animals Staff
© Annie Leblanc/Shutterstock.com

Minke Whales are the smallest member in the family of Baleen Whales.


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Minke Whale Scientific Classification

Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Mammalia
Order
Cetacea
Family
Balaenopteridae
Genus
Balaenoptera
Scientific Name
Balaenoptera acutorostrata

Read our Complete Guide to Classification of Animals.

Minke Whale Conservation Status

Minke Whale Locations

Minke Whale Locations

Minke Whale Facts

Main Prey
Krill, herring, sand eels, sprat, capelin, silverfish, and lanternfish
Fun Fact
Minke Whales are the smallest member in the family of Baleen Whales.
Estimated Population Size
Common Minke Whale: 180,000; Antarctic Minke Whale: 515,000
Biggest Threat
Killer Whales
Other Name(s)
Lesser Rorqual, Lesser Finback, Sharp-Headed Finner, Little Finner, Pike Whale
Gestation Period
10 months
Habitat
Temperate, tropic, or sub tropic waters
Predators
Human, Sharks, Killer Whales
Diet
Carnivore
Average Litter Size
1
Lifestyle
  • Herd
Favorite Food
Krill
Type
Mammal
Common Name
Minke Whale
Number Of Species
2
Slogan
There are two recognised species!

Minke Whale Physical Characteristics

Color
  • Brown
  • Grey
  • Black
  • White
Skin Type
Smooth
Top Speed
13 mph
Lifespan
30-50 years
Weight
4,536-12,700kg (5-14tons)

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Minke Whales are the smallest of the Baleen Whales.

Still, this mammal can weigh up to 20,000 pounds and grow to be up to 35 feet long. There are two main species of these whales. They are Common Minke Whales and Antarctic Minke Whales. These whales are black or dark gray with white bellies. There is a variation with the coloring, patterns, and baleen between different Minke Whales.

Incredible Minke Whale Facts!

  • These whales can swim up to 24 miles per hour to escape a Killer Whale or try to keep up with a ship.
  • Spotting this whale is not very easy since their flukes don’t rise out of the water before they dive beneath the surface.
  • When they feed, these whales may stay with a large group, however, at other times, they prefer to be alone or with just one or two other whales.
  • These whales can stay underwater for up to 20 minutes.

Classification and Scientific Name

The scientific name for these whales is Balaenoptera acutorostrata. Balaenoptera means a winged whale and acutorostrata translates to sharp snout. The common name was given to them by an inexperienced Norwegian Whaling Spotter, Meincke. He initially thought the Minke Whale was a Blue Whale but was mistaken. Minke Whales are also sometimes called Lesser Rorquals, Sharp-Headed Finners, Lesser Finbacks, Little Finners, and Pike Whales.

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Minke whales are the smallest member of the Baleen Whale family.

Evolutionary History

Minke Whale in Antarctica

Mink whales are baleen which is a filter-feeding system inside the mouths of baleen whales.

©Tim Watters/Shutterstock.com

The early ancestor of all whales actually walked on land and is a four-legged animal that is recognized by scientists as one of the first cetaceans. This ancestor was Pakicetus, or “first whale” and roamed the earth around 50 million years ago. From this animal, generations later began to slowly adapt to life in the water, one of them being Ambulocetus and finally, Dorudon, which is the animal that gave us the modern whale.



About 30 to 34 million years ago, near the end of the Eocene and the start of the Oligocene, it is believed that baleen whales began to develop. The first baleen-type whale, the now-extinct Maiabalaena nesbittae existed during this time. As baleen doesn’t become a fossil, it was a bit trickier to estimate the exact date of when this development occurred.

Types of

The minke whale is part of the Mammalia class and belongs to the Balaenopteridae family. The Balaenopteridae includes eight different species of Baleen Whales, including Humpback Whales, Blue Whales, and Fin Whales.

There are two different species of these whales. They are the Common, or Northern, Minke Whale, and the Antarctic, or Southern, Minke Whale. Balaenoptera Acutorostrata is the scientific name for Northern Minke Whales. Balaenoptera bonaerensis is the scientific name for Southern Minke Whales. The currently unnamed subspecies of the Northern minke whale is the Dwark minke whale.

Appearance

Minke whale at Tadoussac Québec

The body of a Northern Minke Whale is dark gray to black. Their bellies are white, and they have a light chevron marking on their backs behind their heads.

©Annie Leblanc/Shutterstock.com

While these whales are about 35 feet long and can weigh up to 20,000 pounds, they are actually the smallest member of the Baleen Whale family. The females in this species are often a little larger than the males.

The body of a Northern Minke Whale is dark gray to black. Their bellies are white, and they have a light chevron marking on their backs behind their heads. The patterns and coloring in this species can vary from whale to whale, typically based on their geographic location. There is also some variation with the baleen, or keratin plates hanging from the mouths of these whales. They will have somewhere between 240 and 360 baleen plates. Northern Minke Whales also have a white band on their flippers.

There is a subspecies of the Northern Whale called Dwarf Minke Whales. As their name suggests, this subspecies does not grow to be as large as Common Minke Whales. They typically only weigh about 14,000 pounds and are around 26 feet long. Another difference between Dwarf and Common Minke Whales is that they have a black border around their baleen plates. Their pectoral fin also includes a bright white patch that reaches up towards their back and shoulder area.

The second main species of Minke Whales, Antarctic, or Southern, Minke Whales also have some differences from the Northern Minke Whales. They have between 200 and 300 plates of baleen on the sides of their mouth. Unlike Common and Dwarf Minke Whales who have a white band on their pectoral fins, a Southern Minke Whale’s flippers are gray with a white edge. Another difference in this species is that they have asymmetric baleen. The left side of their mouth has a smaller number of baleen plates than the right side. The left side has fewer white baleen plates than the right side.

Distribution, Population, and Habitat

Minke whale calf jumping out of the water with Gold Coast buildings in the background

Northern Minke Whales are found in the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.

©DAE Photo/Shutterstock.com

These whales can be found in many places around the globe. While they prefer boreal (northern) or more temperate water habitats, this species is also sometimes found swimming in tropical or subtropical waters as well. When feeding, they often seek out cooler water at a higher latitude. These whales may choose to swim in either inshore or offshore waters.

These whales feed about 62 feet beneath the surface of the water. The maximum depth they’ll dive to is about 350 feet beneath the surface.

Their preferred habitat can often be predicted by their age, sex, and reproductive status. In most cases, older males tend to stay closer to the edge of the ice in the polar regions during feeding season in the summer. Older females, on the other hand, typically choose to stay in more coastal waters, but still at a higher latitude. During the summer feeding season, younger and more immature whales tend to choose to remain at lower latitudes.

Northern Minke Whales are found in the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. During the summer, they tend to stay closer to the edge of the Arctic ice. In the winter months, they may be found almost as far south as the equator.

During the summer, Dwarf Minke Whales tend to stay closer to the southern polar regions. They can also be found in warmer water at lower latitudes than other whales. For example, this subspecies may be found along the Great Barrier Reef in Australia or near South Africa or South America.

Antarctic Minke Whales can be found in many different locations in the Southern Hemisphere. This species has been spotted near Brazil, in the Strait of Magellan, along Southern Chile, and near New Zealand and Australia.

Both Common and Antarctic Minke Whales engage in seasonal migration. They will stay closer to the North or South Pole in the spring and will swim towards more tropical waters in fall and winter. Because of the difference in when the season occurs in the different hemispheres, Common and Antarctic Whales don’t meet and/or mix near the equator. These whales may swim up to 263 miles when they migrate.

These whales are not an endangered species. Common Minke Whales currently have a conservation status of Least Concern from the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature). Scientists believe that there are more than 300,000 of these whales left.

Although its numbers are greater, the Antarctic Minke has a slightly higher threat of becoming endangered. It is listed as Near Threatened according to the IUCN. It is estimated that there are about 500,000 whales from this species left.

Predators and Prey

Giant dwarf minke whale in the ocean

Humans play a role in decreasing the whale population, including the giant dwarf minke whale.

©Islandjems – Jemma Craig/Shutterstock.com

Predators: What Eats a Minke Whale?

Killer Whales pose the greatest threat to these whales. As much as 85% of a Killer Whale’s diet is made up of them. If a Killer Whale is chasing down a Minke, the whale will try to get away by swimming very quickly. In open water, they are capable of maintaining a speed of 9 to 18 miles per hour as they try to escape. The whale has the best chance of escaping in these open water scenarios since they have greater endurance for long distances than Killer Whales do. Other times, though, Killer Whales can corner these whales in a harbor or bay. In these scenarios, the whale has a much smaller chance of survival.

Humans also played a role in decreasing the whale population. While initially this species of whale was seen as too small to be worth it, after populations of other species began to decrease, they were targeted as well. While commercial whaling has been outlawed, some people still try to catch and kill these creatures.

What do Minke Whales Eat?

Common Minke that lives in the North Atlantic Ocean eats a variety of different types of food. Some of these include Krill, Herring, Sand Eels, Capelin, and sprat. Common Minke Whales that live in the North Pacific eat Japanese Anchovy, Pacific Saury, and Krill.

An Antarctic Whale’s diet consists of Antarctic Krill, Ice Krill, Antarctic Jonasfish, Antarctic Lanternfish, Antarctic Silverfish, Notothenia, and Chionadraco.

Reproduction and Lifespan

minke whale swimming in the ocean

These whales have a long lifespan; they can live to be up to 50 years old.

©iStock.com/danielbenhaim

These whales will reach sexual maturity when they are about 23 feet long. For the Common species, this occurs when they are between 3 and 8 years old, and for Antarctic Whales, it occurs when they are between 7 and 8 years old. Scientists are still unsure about how these whales mate as it has never been observed.

The gestation for these whales is about 10 months. Scientists have speculated that a mother will nurse and stay with her calves until they are between four and six months old. Females normally have a calf about once every two years.

These whales have a long lifespan; they can live to be up to 50 years old.

Use in Fishing and Cooking

While animal organizations are trying to prevent the deaths of more whales through whaling, these whales are still targeted and caught in some areas of the world. In Iceland, this whale meat is a common offering. Tourists consider it an exotic treat when they visit Reykjavik. However, the facts of the matter are that eating whale meat encourages whaling to continue and can endanger whales like this.

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About the Author

Melissa Bauernfeind was born in NYC and got her degree in Journalism from Boston University. She lived in San Diego for 10 years and is now back in NYC. She loves adventure and traveling the world with her husband but always misses her favorite little man, "P", half Chihuahua/half Jack Russell, all trouble. She got dive-certified so she could dive with the Great White Sharks someday and is hoping to swim with the Orcas as well.

Minke Whale FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) 

Where are Minke Whale found?

Minke Whales typically create a habitat near the poles (the North Pole for Common Minke Whale and the South Pole for Antarctic Minke Whale) in the spring. During the fall and winter, they migrate to warmer water closer to the equator.

What do Minke Whales eat?

Minke Whales primarily eat krill. They also eat other sea creatures such as herring, sand eels, sprat, capelin, silverfish, and lanternfish.

How many Minke Whales are left?

The Minke Whale is not currently an endangered species. It is estimated that there are about 180,000 Common Minke Whales left and 515,000 Antarctic Minke Whales left.

How deep can a Minke Whale dive?

Minke Whales can dive up to 350 feet beneath the surface.

Do Killer Whales eat Minke Whales?

Yes, Killer Whales eat Minke Whales.

How long do Minke Whales live?

A Minke Whale’s lifespan can be up to 50 years.

What Kingdom do Minke Whales belong to?

Minke Whales belong to the Kingdom Animalia.

What phylum do Minke Whales belong to?

Minke Whales belong to the phylum Chordata.

What class do Minke Whales belong to?

Minke Whales belong to the class Mammalia.

What family do Minke Whales belong to?

Minke Whales belong to the family Balaenopteridae.

What order do Minke Whales belong to?

Minke Whales belong to the order Cetacea.

What genus do Minke Whales belong to?

Minke Whales belong to the genus Balaenoptera.

What type of covering do Minke Whales have?

Minke Whales are covered in Smooth skin.

What are some predators of Minke Whales?

Predators of Minke Whales include humans, sharks, and killer whales.

How many babies do Minke Whales have?

The average number of babies a Minke Whale has is 1.

What is an interesting fact about Minke Whales?

There are two recognized species of Minke Whale!

What is the scientific name for the Minke Whale?

The scientific name for the Minke Whale is Balaenoptera acutorostrata.

How many species of Minke Whale are there?

There are 2 species of Minke Whale.

What is the biggest threat to the Minke Whale?

The biggest threat to the Minke Whale is the killer whale.

What is another name for the Minke Whale?

The Minke Whale is also called the lesser rorqual, lesser finback, sharp-headed finner, little finner, or pike whale.

How fast is a Minke Whale?

A Minke Whale can travel at speeds of up to 13 miles per hour.

How do Minke Whales have babies?

Minke Whales give birth to live young.

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us? Contact the AZ Animals editorial team.

Sources
  1. Wikipedia, Available here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minke_whale#Description
  2. NOAA Fisheries, Available here: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/minke-whale
  3. Whale and Dolphin Conservation, Available here: https://us.whales.org/whales-dolphins/species-guide/common-minke-whale/
  4. B.C Cetacean Sightings Network, Available here: https://wildwhales.org/speciesid/whales/minke-whale/
  5. The Whale Trial, Available here: https://thewhaletrail.org/wt-species/minke-whale-2/
  6. Wildlife Journal Junior, Available here: https://nhpbs.org/wild/balaenopteridae.asp

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