Common Minke Whale

The common minke whale is the smallest rorqual, reaching a maximum length of approximately 10.2 m. It has a dark upper surface, white underside, pointed bullet-shaped head, relatively small rostrum, and a tall dorsal fin that curves backward. A broad white band crosses the upper surface of each flipper. The mouth contains about 300 yellowish baleen plates and 50–70 expandable ventral grooves. Females grow larger than males and may approach 10,000 kg. (Animal Diversity Web)

Common minke whales occur in every ocean and generally favor cooler water. Although not strictly coastal, they commonly enter bays, estuaries, fjords, and lagoons and seldom travel more than 169 km from land. Individuals often swim alone or in groups of two to four, but hundreds may gather where krill is abundant. Some populations migrate between cold feeding areas and warmer winter waters. These filter feeders principally consume krill and small fish, supplemented in northern waters by squid, cod, herring, and sardines. (Animal Diversity Web)