Sei whale facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sei whale
Sei whale mother and calf
Size compared to an average human
Conservation status
Endangered (IUCN 3.1)
Endangered (ESA)
Scientific classification
Genus:	Balaenoptera
Species:	borealis
Subspecies
B.b.borealis B.b.schlegelii
Sei whale range
Synonyms
Balaena rostrata Rudolphi, 1822 Balaenoptera laticeps Gray, 1846 Sibbaldius laticeps Flower, 1864 Physalus laticeps Flower, 1864 Rudolphius laticeps Gray, 1868

The sei whale (Balaenoptera borealis) is a dark-gray, stream-lined baleen whale that is found worldwide except in polar waters. It swims in small pods of 3-5 whales but larger groups may form at rich feeding grounds. It has very fine grey-black baleen that traps very small particles of food. It is a rorqual whale (a large baleen whale) that is similar to the Bryde's whales.

Description

The Sei whale is also called the Sardine whale, the Pollack whale, the Coalfish whale, the Japan Finner, and Rudolphi's rorqual. Large numbers of these whales were hunted until recently for their oil and meat. It is the fastest of the great whales and can swim at about 23 mph (20 knots) in short bursts.

Diet

Sei whales are carnivores that filter-feed plankton (tiny crustaceans like krill, copepods, etc.) and small fish from the water.

Images for kids

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  Painting of a sei whale.

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  A sei whale showing distinctive upright dorsal fin

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  abbr=on}} intervals. The plates are attached to the jaw at the top, and have hairs at the bottom end.

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  Feeding at the surface

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  Krill, shrimp-like marine invertebrate animals, are one of the sei whale's primary foods.

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  Drawing of a sei whale on a Faroese stamp, issued 17 September 2001

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  A sei whale (foreground) caught off Finnmark.

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  A sei whale being harpooned off Japan.

See also

In Spanish: Balaenoptera borealis para niños