WorldWideWhale.com
A Web site dedicated to Cetaceans, the whales and dolphins of this blue planet,
and the people who fight to save them.
and the people who fight to save them.
January 01, 2008
Government silent on whaler watching
full story...
December 24, 2007
Ferry speed called key to collisions with whales
full story...
December 22, 2007
Japan commits to commercial whaling despite humpback backdown
full story...
December 21, 2007
More action needed to save whales
full story...
Gray Whale Facts
| Size: | Males reach sizes of 36 to 48 feet and females somewhat larger, at 38 to 49 feet in length. Newborn calves are from 12 to 15 feet in length. One whale may weight up to 35 tons, the average being 20 - 40 tons. They are mottled gray in color but tinged with the color of parasites including whale lice and barnacles. |
| Life Span: | 50 - 60 years, reaching maturity at 12 - 14 years. Females give birth every two to three years. |
| Diet: | Baleen whale which feeds on the ocean floor, scooping up huge quatities of water and sediment to feed on amphipods, tubeworms, mysids, ghost shrimps, herring eggs and small fishes. They are capable of diving to 395 feet but prefer feeding in shallower waters. |
| Activity: | Gray Whales are one of the most active whales, with much spyhopping, tail slapping and breeching. They are inquisitive and friendly with humans with mothers often pushing their calves towards whale-watching boats.The Gray whale breathing pattern is regular with three to five blows then a raise of the flukes followed by submerssion for three to five minutes before the pattern begings again. They are capable of remaining submerged for up to 15 minutes. |
| Society: | There were once three distinct populations of Gray Whale. One segment in the North Atlantic was hunted to extinction by 1700, another in the Northwestern Pacific off Korea was hunted until asd late as 1968 and rare survivors are seen. The last population is that of the whales off the Western shores of North America, also known as the California Gary Whale.Called Devilfish, California Gray Whale, Mussel-digger and Scrag Whale. |