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Balaenoptera borealis
- insets: view of head from top, spray pattern
Click to enlarge.
(41 kb)
Conservation Status:
Endangered
.
Unlike other
rorquals
, Sei whales have a dolphin-like
dorsal
fin. They are also unusual in using two different methods to fill their mouths with water during feeding - they both gulp and skim-feed. During feeding, these whales can be found in large numbers, probably around concentrations of
copepods
, a crustacean they favor. Otherwise, they occur in smaller groups of six or less. The sei whale is
endangered
, and it has been protected by the International Whaling Commission since the mid-1980s. The common name, pronounced "sigh," comes from the Norwegian word for codfish, which sei whales are known to eat. "Rorqual" is also a word of Scandinavian origin, meaning "tubed," and refers to the grooved, expandable throats of the six
species
of whales in the
family
Balaenopteridae.
Length:
Range: 14-18.6 m
Weight:
Range: 8,500-11,300 kg males; 8,600-15,000 kg females
References:
Lesson, René Primevère, 1828.
Histoire naturelle générale et particulière des Mammifères et des Oiseaux découverts depuis 1788 jusqu'à nos jours,
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The sei whale,
Balaenoptera borealis
(Lesson, 1828), is a slender cetacean, although more robust than the
fin whale.
It is a Rorqual whale, (Family Balaenopteridae, the family that also includes the
blue whale
,
Bryde's whale
,
fin whale
,
humpback whale
, and
minke whale
), and these long, slender whales are much more streamlined than other large whales.
Local Names: Coalfish whale; Pollack whale; Rudolphi's rorqual; Sardine whale; Japan finner. The name 'sei' refers to the whales' habit of arriving off the northern Norwegian coast with the seje (coalfish).
There are two subspecies of sei whales:
1. sei (northern hemisphere),
B. borealis borealis
2. sei (southern hemisphere),
B. borealis schlegellii
The dorsal fin is well-defined and slightly hooked and is located about two-thirds back along the body. The head and jaws are rather narrow and slightly arched, unlike in other rorquals. It is a mottled dark gray in color, with paler undersides and between 38-60 throat grooves. There are 636-680 dark baleen plates per animal, the longest of which is
78
cm. The sei whale is between 13.6-
16
m long, with the longest recorded animal at
18.3
m; females are generally larger than males. It weighs between 20,000-
25,000
kg.
Sei whales tend to swim in pods of 3-5 animals, and rarely dive deeper than
300
m. Although little is known about how this species communicates, it has been found that low-frequency pulses are common.
The largest known sei whale measured
20
m in length, although most whales are between 12.2-
15.2
m long. Of this length, the head and body make up about
13
m. Males are slightly smaller than females. Sei whales have a relatively slender body with a compressed tail stock that abruptly joins the flukes. The snout is pointed, and the pectoral fins are short. The dorsal fin is sickle shaped and ranges in height from 25-
61
cm.
The body is typically a dark steel gray with irregular white markings ventrally. The ventrum has 38-56 deep grooves, which may have some feeding function. Each side of the upper part of the mouth contains 300-380 ashy-black baleen plates. The fine inner bristles of these plates are whitish.
Little is known about the actual social system of these animals. Groups of 2-5 individuals are typically observed, but sometimes thousands may gather if food is abundant. However, these large aggregations may not be dependent on food supply alone, as they often occur during times of migration. Norwegian workers call the times of great sei whale abundance "invasion years." During mating season, males and females may form a social unit, but strong data on this issue are lacking.
Sei whales are among the fastest cetaceans, swimming at speeds of up to
50
kph. Although distinguished by their speed, sei whales are not remarkable divers. These whales dive only to shallow depths, and they remain submerged only 5-10 minutes at a time.
World Range & Habitat
The sei whale is found in virtually every ocean and sea in the world. However, they do not like extreme environments and are less likely to be found in polar waters than other rorquals. The subarctic and subantarctic are favored for summer feeding, but the majority of sei whales are found in temperate and sub-tropical waters, and migrations between these areas are annual.
This species is essentially a dweller of the open ocean, not generally found inshore or in coastal waters. The sei whale tends to follow shelf contours and plankton gatherings.
The sei whale will take whatever is in abundance locally, whether it be fish (up to
30
cm long), squid or plankton, as long as it is shoaling (schooling). It swims on one side through the shoaling fish and then filters out the water with its baleen plates and tongue.
The sei whale obtains food by skimming through the water and catching prey in its baleen plates. An average sei whale eats about
900
kgs of zooplankton (copepods, amphipods, euphausiids (includes
krill
) and small fish every day.
Life History
Mating occurs during the winter months. Sei whales in the Northern Hemisphere mate between November-February, whereas mating in the southern hemisphere occurs between May-July. Gestation lasts from 10 1/2-12 months. Females typically give birth to a single calf measuring
4.5
m in length. There are reports of rare multiple fetuses. The calf nurses for 6-7 months. Young reach sexual maturity at 10 years of age, but do not reach full adult size until they are about 25 years old.
Females typically give birth every other year, but a recent increase in pregnancies has been noted.
Longevity: Approximately 70 years. Estimated Current Population: 65,000 animals.
Conservation Status/Additional Comments
The sei whale was not traditionally a target for whalers because it lived in the same waters as blue, fin and humpback whales, which were the preferred quarry. However, when these stocks began to decline and then became protected, sei whales became the primary catch from the mid-1960s onwards. By the mid-1970s, the sei whale stocks were 'fished out' and the species earned protected status in 1979. The global population of these whales is estimated at only 57,000. The take of these animals peaked in the 1964-65 season, when 25,454 of these whales were taken. The reported global catch of sei whales in the 1978-79 season was only 150, showing the dramatic drop in whale populations. Some researchers have concluded that sei whale populations are rising as a result of decreases in blue and fin whale populations. However, this conclusion must be taken with caution, as actual data are scarce, and the dietary overlap between sei whales and these other species is not complete.
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Endangered Species
Gaskin, D.E. 1982. The ecology of whales and dolphins. Heinemann, London, Exeter and New Hampshire.
Nowak, R.M. 1991. Walker's Mammals of the world, Fifth edition. John Hopkins University Press, Boston.
These whales are found in all oceans and adjoining seas, except polar and tropical regions. These animals occupy temperate and subpolar regions in the summer, but migrate to sub-tropical waters during the winter.
The largest known Sei whale measured 20 meters in length, although most whales are between 12.2 and 15.2 meters long. Of this length, the head and body make up about 13 meters. Males are slightly smaller than females. Sei whales have a relatively slender body with a compressed tail stock that abruptly joins the flukes. The snout is pointed, and the pectoral fins are short. The dorsal fin is sickle shaped and ranges in height from 25 to 61 centimeters.
The body is typically a dark steel gray with irregular white markings ventrally. The ventrum has 38-56 deeps grooves, which may have some feeding function. Each side of the upper part of the mouth contains 300 - 380 ashy-black baleen plates. The fine inner bristles of these plates are whitish.
Age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female)
10 years (average)
Age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male)
10 years (average)
During mating season, males and females may form a social unit, but strong data on this issue are lacking.
Mating occurs during the winter months. Sei whales in the Northern Hemishpere mate between November and February, whereas mating in the southern hemisphere occurs between May and July. Gestation lasts from 10 1/2 to 12 months. Females typically give birth to a single calf measuring 450 cm in length. There are reports of rare multiple fetuses. The calf nurses for six or seven months. Young reach sexual maturity at 10 years of age, but do not reach full adult size until they are about 25 years old. Sei whales may live as long as 74 years.
Females typically give birth every other year, but a recent increase in pregnancies has been noted. Researchers think this may be a response to the predation rate. Humans kill a great many whales each year, and this might have effects on their reproductive activity.
Little is known about the actual social system of these animals. Groups of two to five individuals are typically observed, but sometimes thousands may gather if food is abundant. However, these large aggregations may not be dependent on food supply alone, as they often occur during times of migration. Norwegian workers call the times of great Sei whale abundance "invasion years."
Sei whales are among the fastest cetaceans, swimming at speeds of up to 50 kilometers per hour. Although distinguished by their speed, Sei whales are not remarkable divers. These whales dive only to shallow depths, and they remain submerged only five to ten minutes at a time.
The Sei whale obtains food by skimming through the water and catching prey in its baleen plates. These whales feed near the surface of the ocean, swimming on their sides through swarms of prey. An average Sei whale eats about 900 kilograms of copepods, amphipods, euphausiids and small fish every day.
The current economic importance of this whale is questionable. However, in the past, these large whales provided a great deal of income to the whaling industry. It cannot be stressed enough, however, that the positive economic effects of hunting this animal have been acheived only by large scale decimation of Sei whale populations. By overharvesting the whales, the whaling industry experienced a short term economic gain at a long term cost-- the reduction in the number of whales available for harvest.
Sei whales are listed as CITES appendix 1 from the equator to Antarctica. All other populations are listed as CITES appendix 2. The global population of these whales is estimated at only 57,000. Hunting of these whales by humans has been high since the 1950s. The take of these animals peaked in the 1964-65 season, when 25,454 of these whales were taken. The reported global catch of Sei whales in the 1978-79 season was only 150, showing the dramatic drop in whale populations. Some researchers have concluded that Sei whale populations are rising as a result of decreases in Blue and Fin whale poulations. However, this conclusion must be taken with caution, as actual data are scarce, and the dietary overlap between Sei whales and these other species is not complete.
Nancy Shefferly (author), Animal Diversity Web Staff.
References
Gaskin, D.E. 1982. The ecology of whales and dolphins. Heinemann, London, Exeter and New Hampshire.
Nowak, R.M. 1991. Walker's Mammals of the world, Fifth edition. John Hopkins University Press, Boston.
2010/02/07 01:52:56.993 US/Eastern
To cite this page:
Shefferly, N. 1999. "Balaenoptera borealis" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed February 09, 2010 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Balaenoptera_borealis.html.
Disclaimer:
The Animal Diversity Web is an educational resource
written largely by and for college students
. ADW doesn't cover all species in the world, nor does it include all the latest scientific information about organisms we describe. Though we edit our accounts for accuracy, we cannot guarantee all information in those accounts. While ADW staff and contributors provide references to books and websites that we believe are reputable, we cannot necessarily endorse the contents of references beyond our control.
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