|
|
|
The
"Great Whales"
|
|
| The "Great Whales" is a generic term given by commercial whalers
for the worlds large whales. Because of their size, these whales were commercially
attractive. The term includes the five most common whales in the Antarctic
- |
|
| IWC Common name (English) |
Scientific name |
| Blue whale |
Balaenoptera musculus |
| Humpback whale |
Megaptera novaeangliae |
| Fin Whale |
Balaenoptera physalus |
| Sei whale |
Balaenoptera borealis |
| Sperm Whale |
Physeter macrocephalus |
|
Seven other whales are also considered "Great Whales" - |
|
| IWC Common name (English) |
Scientific name |
| Greenland right whale or Bowhead |
Balaena mysticetus |
| North Atlantic right whale |
Eubalaena glacialis |
| North Pacific right whale |
Eubalaena sieboldii |
| Southern right whale |
Eubalaena australis |
| Gray whale |
Eschrichtius robustus |
| Bryde's whale |
Balaenoptera edeni |
| Minke whale |
Balaenoptera acutorostrata |
|
All but the Humpback and the Sperm whale are baleen whales. The
Sperm whale is the largest toothed whale. |
|