Gray whale

The gray whale (*Eschrichtius robustus*), also spelled grey whale, is a baleen whale found in the North Pacific Ocean.

The gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus), also known as the grey whale, is a baleen whale found in the North Pacific Ocean. It is known for its long seasonal migrations, bottom-feeding behaviour, and mottled gray appearance that gives it its name.

Taxonomy and appearance

Gray whales are baleen whales in the species Eschrichtius robustus and the only living member of the family Eschrichtiidae. They are mottled gray, often with barnacles and whale lice attached to their skin, and lack a dorsal fin. Adults typically reach about 40 to 50 feet (12 to 15 m) in length and weigh roughly 30 to 40 tons.

Distribution and migration

The gray whale lives in the North Pacific Ocean. The eastern North Pacific population is known for one of the longest migrations of any mammal, migrating annually between feeding areas in the Arctic and breeding areas in Baja California, Mexico, making a very long round trip. Along the Pacific coast of Canada, especially through British Columbia waters, gray whales are part of Canadian marine mammal conservation and monitoring efforts.

Feeding and behaviour

Gray whales are bottom feeders that use baleen to filter small crustaceans, amphipods, tubeworms, mollusks, and other invertebrates from seafloor sediment. They travel in pods and are air-breathing mammals that nurse their young.

Conservation status

The IUCN lists gray whales as Least Concern, with a stable overall population trend. The eastern North Pacific population was removed from the U.S. endangered species list in 1994 after recovery. However, conservation status can differ by population, with some western North Pacific groups much smaller than the eastern population. Atlantic gray whale populations are extinct.