Beluga Whale

Beluga whales have a melon-shaped head and a bulbous forehead that helps them communicate and aids in echolocation. It’s what gives them such expressive faces! Their necks are narrower and the vertebrae in the neck are not fused, allowing them to move their heads all around, especially when they’re curiously watching humans. Belugas lack a dorsal fin so they can maneuver under the ice safely. Dubbed the ‘canaries of the sea’, they sing to each other with clicks, whistles and croons.

Belugas reach maturity at different rates, though as with other mammals, the female reaches sexual maturity first between the ages of four and seven, where males take up to nine years to fully mature. Mating happens in March or April and it takes just over a year (14015 months) for them to give birth. Their calves are 1.2 – 1.8m (4-6 ft) long and weigh 50-60 kg (110-130 lbs).

Scientists have yet to agree on how long belugas live in the wild. Some say 35-50 years while others believe it’s closer to 70 years based on how many teeth they lose per year. They get their teeth at 12-18 months, right around the time they are weaned.

Belugas are not picky eaters and will sample nearly any creature that comes across their path. This includes anything from snails and sandworms to flounder, salmon and squid. They are carnivores and eat 22.7-27kg (50-60lbs) of food per day. They also have bad manners and do not chew anything—their teeth are mainly for grabbing prey.