During Antarctica’s summer the chilly waters of the Southern Ocean become crowded with many species of whales and the Antarctic cruise ships that come to see them. Whale watching season in the Antarctic falls from November to March when the ice retreats and great quantities of krill bloom around the coast. Unlike the continent’s barren tundra, Antarctica’s coastal waters are rich in nutrients and support a vibrant ecosystem. Here are the whales in Antarctica to look for during whale watching season and how to identify them.
Plenty of Minke Whales in Antarctica
Minke whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) are one of the smallest species of Antarctic whales and one of the most abundant. According to the Australian Antarctic Division’s “Minke Whale” page these whales can grow up to 9 meters long and weigh 10 tonnes. They feed largely on krill and can be quite inquisitive. These Antarctic whales will often go out of their way to approach cruise ships and will swim around small vessels to see what’s going on.
Minkes are also known to spyhop and breach around Antarctic cruise ships according to the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) on their “Antarctic minke whale” page. This group further says the minke can be identified by its slender body and V-shaped head. This Antarctic whale has a black back and white body; its dorsal fin is about two-thirds of the way down its body. Finally, the minke is a baleen whale which means it has no teeth but rather sieves ocean water for food using its bristle-like baleen.
Blue Whales in Antarctica
The blue whale (Balaenoptera muscuus) is the largest animal on Earth growing up to 40 meters in length and weighing 160 tonnes. Unfortunately, these endangered whales currently number fewer than 2000 individuals according to the Australian Antarctic Division’s “Blue Whale” page. For decades this Antarctic whale was hunted for its meat and oil, thus decimating its numbers.
The blue whale is well known for its song which can be heard 100 miles away says the Antarctic Connection ‘Blue Whale’ page. The blue whale is also a baleen whale and feeds predominantly on krill. According to IFAW this Antarctic whale is a bluish-grey just as its name would suggest. Blue whales have a large splashguard in front of the two blowholes on top of their heads and they have relatively short flippers compared to the rest of their body.
Antarctica Whales Include the Humpback
The humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) is one of the most charismatic whales in Antarctica well known for its songs and acrobatics. Visitors on Antarctic cruise ships have a good chance of seeing humpbacks breach or slap their fins on the ocean surface. These baleen whales also eat the abundance of krill off Antarctic’s coast as well as small fish and plankton according to the Australian Antarctic Division’s “Humpback whale” page.
The humpback is a stockier whale than its blue and minke cousins according to the IFAW. Shorter and wider than other whales, females can grow up to 15.5 meters and weigh 40.8 tonnes. The humpback is particularly distinguishable for its long fins which can be up to one-third of their body length. These whales are generally black or dark grey on top and white on their belly with bumps on their heads and fins.
Look for Killer Whales During Whale Watching Season
The killer whale or orca (Orcinus orca) is one of the most recognizable cetaceans with its black and white coloration, well known around the world. These Antarctic whales have teeth unlike their baleen cousins and will eat Antarctic animals such as fish, squid, penguins, seals, and even other whales according to the Australian Antarctic Division’s “Killer Whale” page.
These whales of Antarctica can grow up to 6.7 meters long with a dorsal fin reaching up to 1.8 meters high according to the IFAW “Killer Whale” page. Orcas often travel together in pods forming close knit and highly coordinated hunting groups. During the whale watching season, those lucky enough to be on an Antarctic cruise ship will likely see more than one orca at a time.
More Antarctica Whales to Look For
The most popular whales in Antarctica are minkes, humpbacks, blue whales and orcas. According to The Complete Whale-Watching Handbook by Ben Wilson and Angus Wilson these are the main species folks will see during Antarctica’s whale watching season. However, there are a few other Antarctica whales to look out for including:
- Long-finned Pilot whales
- Fin Whales
- Sei Whales
- Cuvier's Beaked Whales
- Gray's Beaked Whales
Unfortunately, many of these species are endangered whales that continue to need protection from pollution, entanglements with fishing gear, collisions with large vessels, and illegal whaling operations.
Megan Jungwi - Megan Jungwi started her freelance writing career in March 2009. Although new to online writing Megan has long been passionate about the ...
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