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Project Noah Nature School
Balaenoptera bonaerensis
Also known as the southern minke whale, and distinct from the similar dwarf minke whale in that its pectoral fins are not white (as the dwarf's are). This sequence shows the whales feeding around our ship while we were stationary. You can see the whales surfacing on their sides, and opening their mouths above the water's surface. They stayed for an hour or so, attracting the attention of many penguins!
Found throughout the southern hemisphere. These whales were very common when we were in the ice, we saw several every day.
While we came across many whales in the ice, these two were not afraid to come close and feed around us. In picture number 2, you can see the whale on its back with a mouthful of water. Picture 3 is the fluke on its side. Picture 4 shows two whales, on the left is the top jaw of an open mouth, and on the right is a pectoral fin (the whale is on its side).
Spotted on Jan 18, 2013
Submitted on Mar 21, 2013
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