# Common Minke Whale (*Balaenoptera acutorostrata*) The Common Minke Whale is a sleek and fast swimmer found in oceans around the world. They are known for their playful nature and can often be seen leaping out of the water! - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Snaps:** 1 - **Habitat:** Coastal areas ![Common Minke Whale](https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/2901229/medium.jpg) Photo: Nils, CC BY 4.0 · [iNaturalist](https://www.inaturalist.org/photos/2901229) ## Appearance The Common Minke Whale has a sleek, dark grey back with a distinctive white band on each flipper, contrasting with its white belly. Its head is pointed, and it has a small dorsal fin located far back on its body, making it visually unique. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Cetacea - **Family:** Balaenopteridae - **Genus:** Balaenoptera ## Interesting facts - Minke whales breathe air, but can stay underwater for up to 15 minutes! - Minke whales make sounds like moans and thumps to talk underwater! - Sometimes they 'spyhop,' poking their head out of the water to look around! - They have two blowholes, not just one, on top of their heads! ## Special abilities - **Gulp Feeding:** Common Minke Whale can gulp huge amounts of water because of its expanding throat, that helps them filter out tiny food. - **Ocean Sprint:** Common Minke Whale has a streamlined body shape that helps them slice through water at impressive speeds. - **Deep Dive Hunter:** Common Minke Whale can hold its breath for long periods, which helps them hunt prey in deeper waters. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 700-1000 cm - **Weight:** 5000-10000 kg - **Lifespan:** 30-50 years - **Speed:** 30 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1 - **Gestation:** 300-305 days ## Diet & Feeding These whales are expert filter feeders, gulping down huge amounts of water to catch tiny ocean creatures! - **Primary Foods:** krill, capelin, herring, copepods - **Foraging Method:** Filter feeding ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Orca](https://www.snappit.app/explore/orca) (*Orcinus orca*) — Apex predators that sometimes hunt young minke whales. - **Eats:** Antarctic Krill (*Euphausia superba*) — A primary food source, especially in colder waters. - **Eats:** [Atlantic Herring](https://www.snappit.app/explore/atlantic-herring) (*Clupea harengus*) — A common schooling fish prey item in their diet. ## Traits - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Filter Feeder](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/filter-feeder): Filter feeders obtain nutrients by straining suspended food particles and small organisms from water. - [Piscivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/piscivorous): Piscivorous organisms are animals that primarily subsist on a diet of fish. - [Coastal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coastal): Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. - [Giant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/giant): Giant describes organisms or objects of significantly larger size than average for their species or type. - [Marine](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/marine): Marine habitats encompass all saltwater environments of the Earth's oceans, supporting an immense diversity of aquatic life. - [Migratory](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/migratory): Migratory animals undertake seasonal movements from one region to another, typically in response to changes in climate or food availability. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Always watch whales from a safe distance and never try to touch or swim with them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Common Minke Whale? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Common Minke Whale? 700-1000 cm ### How much does Common Minke Whale weigh? 5000-10000 kg ### How long does Common Minke Whale live? 30-50 years ### How fast can Common Minke Whale move? 30 km/h ### What does Common Minke Whale eat? These whales are expert filter feeders, gulping down huge amounts of water to catch tiny ocean creatures! ### Where is Common Minke Whale usually found? Coastal areas ### How does Common Minke Whale hunt? Filter feeding ## Where to spot - [Fort Revere Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/fort-revere-park) — US · State Park ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [Common Minke Whale: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-minke-whale)