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Belugas are mid-sized whales, with a bulbous forehead, and a short or absent snout. "White wingless dolphin" is a literal translation of its Latin name referring to the absence of a dorsal fin which is present on most whales --- possibly an adaptation to living under the sea ice.
They are toothed whales foraging near the sea bed where they feed on a variety of fish, along with squid, octopus, crustaceans and marine worms. In summer, when these pics were taken, they migrate to feed in shallow coastal bays, estuaries and inlets.
They often stay together in large family groups, or pods, and the juveniles are easy to spot as they are gray in colour.
This particular pod was up to 200 strong and took some time to pass the research vessel.
Unlike other whales they have unfused cervical vertebrae which allows their necks to bend and rotate , an advantage when hunting elusive prey.
In 1930 a whaling station was established in Moab Bay specialising on hunting Beluga whales for their meat, blubber and skin. The skeletal remains of 550 Beluga whales still lie in several great piles at this site as a memorial to these gentle mammals who had been slaughtered in their thousands, until the practice was made illegal in the 1970's.
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They are toothed whales foraging near the sea bed where they feed on a variety of fish, along with squid, octopus, crustaceans and marine worms. In summer, when these pics were taken, they migrate to feed in shallow coastal bays, estuaries and inlets.
You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.
They often stay together in large family groups, or pods, and the juveniles are easy to spot as they are gray in colour.
You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.
This particular pod was up to 200 strong and took some time to pass the research vessel.
You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.
Unlike other whales they have unfused cervical vertebrae which allows their necks to bend and rotate , an advantage when hunting elusive prey.
You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.
In 1930 a whaling station was established in Moab Bay specialising on hunting Beluga whales for their meat, blubber and skin. The skeletal remains of 550 Beluga whales still lie in several great piles at this site as a memorial to these gentle mammals who had been slaughtered in their thousands, until the practice was made illegal in the 1970's.
You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.
