Origin
The gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus) lives in the northern Pacific Ocean and especially on the coast of California. It is part of the order Cetacea and the Mammalia family.
This species is endangered, so it has been protected by law since 1946. A current population of 15,000-22,000 is estimated.
For most of the Year , adults lead a relatively solitary life(or in small groups of 3-15 individuals), feeding in the frozen ocean (Arctic).
Every year, in February, they leave the cold waters and migrate through the Pacific Ocean near the western coasts of North America (Alaska, Canada, USA), traveling a distance of 16,000 km in about 3-4 months , to reach during the summer in the warm waters near Mexico – reg. Baja (lagoon "San Ignatio" - currently a nature reserve) for the breeding season.
During migrations and in warm waters, these whales do not feed, or consume very little food. At the end of the breeding season, the whales migrate again, along the same route, back to the Arctic Ocean for feeding season.The normal movement speed (migration speed) is 3-10km/hour. In case of danger they can advance by 16-18km / hour. The swimming speed during feeding is 1.6-4km/hour.
Feeding The Gray Whale
The gray whale feeds by filtering water.
It usually dives to the bottom of the sea, in not very deep areas, takes huge sips of the shore and filters with short fanons worms, shrimp, starfish, fish and other small creatures.
Features Of The Gray Whale
It has a long, thin head and quite small compared to the size of the body. The vertebrae of the neck are separated, and at the gatlej it has 2-4 creases characteristic of this species. It shows some formations called phanons, two rows on both sides of the upper jaw.
They have extensions that allow them to feed on plankton. They function as a brush that retains only the components of plankton from the water introduced into the mouth.
This whale reaches 13-15 m in length and weighs 14-35 tons. Its color is gray with white spots, the skin is encrusted with shells, whale lice and other outgrowths. On the back, the dorsal fin is replaced by a series of 8-9 bumps, and the tail has jagged edges.
It makes sounds like grunts, groans, wails or clamped claps. He leaps, standing upright in the water, with his head far out, to observe other whales, other landmarks or to check water currents for Migration.
The gray whale weighs about 30-35 tons(only the tongue weighs 1300 kg.
Breeding Gray Whale
These whales are used to swimming in pairs, migrating in groups of up to 10 specimens, in the northern regions to the Arctic (where krill is abundant) to feed in summer and in the southern regions to the lagoons to rest and make chicks, in autumn and winter.
At periods of two or three years, they give birth to live cubs, which they feed on milk. The newly born cub is helped by other whales in the group to reach the surface of the water to breathe.
The mother whale produces 250-300 liters of fatty milk daily, which is consumed by the chick and helps it grow very quickly. In the spring they return to higher altitudes, along with the infant chicks. Migrations are very long, gray whales travel distances of up to 20 000 km per year.
Longevity: 50-60 years. Enemies: killer whales (orcas) ,large sharks and whale hunters(Siberian Eskimos).
