What is the difference between a right whale and a sperm whale?
North Atlantic right whales (Eubalaena glacialis) are big, but they’re not the biggest whales. The sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus), on the other hand, may not be the biggest whale, but it has the biggest brain to have ever existed on Earth .
How can you tell a right whale?
Right whales are individually identified by the unique pattern of ‘callosities’ on their heads. Callosities are roughened patches of skin that appear in many of the places that humans have hair – on the top of the head, on the chin and jaw and above the eyes.
How can you tell the difference between whales?
Common Dorsal Fins An easy way to identify cetaceans to species is by looking at the shape of their dorsal fin. Porpoises have triangular dorsal fins, dolphins have curved fins, and large whales dorsal fins in all shapes and sizes (or none at all!).
How do you identify a sperm whale?
There is a low rounded dorsal hump and a series of bumps, or crenulations, on the dorsal ridge of the tail stock. The body surface tends to be wrinkled behind the head. Sperm whales are predominantly black to brownish grey, with white areas around the mouth and often on the belly.
Why is a right whale called a right whale?
The right whale got its name because it was the right whale to hunt—it moved slowly and would float after being killed. A North Atlantic right whale mother and calf spotted off the U.S. southern coast by NOAA researchers during the 2020 breeding season.
How many Right Whales exist?
About the Species. The North Atlantic right whale is one of the world’s most endangered large whale species; the latest preliminary estimate suggests there are fewer than 350 remaining.
What color are right whales?
Physical Characteristics & Color of North Atlantic Right Whales. North Atlantic right whales have a dark gray, almost black color. They’re entirely dark except for some distinguishing features like patches on their bellies, scarring, head excrescences, parasites, and callosities.
Where are the right whales now?
Although North Atlantic right whales now occur almost exclusively along the east coasts of the United States and Canada, a few individuals have been observed entering the Gulf of Mexico and venturing across the Atlantic to European waters.
Are humpback and sperm whales the same?
Sperm Whale – next up in the lineup of largest whales is the sperm whale. The Humpback Whale – the humpback whale is one of the most distinguished whale species set apart by its pointed head shape and extra-long fins or flippers. The humpback can grow up to 52 feet and weigh nearly 60,000 lbs.
Are sperm whales and blue whales the same?
The Main Differences Between a Sperm Whale and Blue Whale Appearance: Sperm whales have a ‘blocky’ head, with an S-shaped blow hole. The blue whale is, on the other hand, long and slender, and has a much larger mouth.
Why are sperm whales wrinkly?
In contrast to the smooth skin of most large whales, a sperm whale’s black skin is wrinkly like a prune. Sperm whales were a prized catch for whalers in the 1800s for the rich waxy substance found in their heads called spermaceti. Spermaceti was used to make smokeless candles, soap, cosmetics and lamp fuel.