© Doc White / naturepl.com
Status:
Classified as Endangered (EN - A1abd) on the IUCN Red List 2002. Stocks in the North Atlantic off Iceland and Newfoundland are listed on Appendix II of CITES, all other stocks are on Appendix I.
Description
Fin whales are the fastest of all cetaceans, reaching speeds of 37 km per hour and known to completely clear the water. This whale is grey in colour on the upper surface and white on the underside. The patterns on the jaw are asymmetrical, being white on the right side and dark on the left, and a large number of grooves extend along the throat to the naval. The prominent dorsal fin is 60 cm in length and curves strongly. Males and females tend to be very similar in their general appearance, but females are slightly longer than males. The baleen plates are bluish to grey in colour and have white fringes.
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