A huge dark shape slowly moves underneath the surface of the frigid water. The mammoth mammal breaks the surface and takes in enormous amounts of air in a single breath. This extraordinary creature is unique among animals. The longest living mammal in the world it has seen sights that would astound.
Bowheads are considered to be a species of Right Whale. They are also the second most-massive of all the whales, only the Blue Whale is larger.
Huge Mouths And Thick Skulls
These whales have massive jaws and thick skulls. Their craniums allow them to pierce through substantial layers of ice, up to half a metre or more (two feet). Their colossal jaws allow the bowhead to have the largest mouth of any animal.
The freezing-cold environment of the Artic waters means that the Bowhead Whale has to have a consolidated layer of blubber to insulate itself from the chilly waters. Their blubber is thought to be the thickest of all the whales at up to half a metre (two feet) in thickness.
As baleen whales, Bowheads filter their prey through baleen plates (long hair-like structures), which at over three metres in length (ten feet), makes them the longest of all the whales.
The Impact Of Whaling
Whaling has had a devastating impact on the numbers of Bowheads. From an estimated figure of 50,000 before the advent of whaling, the population has now been reduced to half that number.
The fact that these whales swim very slowly, less than six knots, and float after death did not do them any favours. These characteristics are features of the Right Whales and are the reason why people preferred to hunt them.
Nowadays these whales endure a better relationship with people and are only killed by subsistence hunters such as the Inuit.
Long Lived
One of the most interesting aspects of Bowhead whales is their longevity. It is now believed that Bowheads can live up to 200 years or more. Scientists have based this on the fact that slate and ivory spear heads dating back to the 19th century were found in the 1990′s. This means that they are plenty of Bowhead whales that probably remember the days of 19th century hunting.
If we could communicate with these creatures imagine what they could tell us? Their lifespans, three-fold that of the average human, are astonishing. Thankfully, our relationship with these friendly giants has improved enormously from the days when they were commercially killed.
Vital Statistics
- Bowhead Whales can be up to 20 metres in length (65 feet). Females are larger than their male counterparts.
- They can weigh as much as 100 tonnes.
- Bowhead Whales are thought to be the longest living of all mammals and scientists believe that they can be over 200 years old.
- They are found throughout the artic.
Recommended Reading
Check out Yellow Magpie’s The Whales: Kings Of The Cetaceans for further insight into Whales.
Among Giants: A Life With Whales is the fascinating story of underwater photographer, Charles ‘Flip’ Nicklin. Full of stunning pictures and insightful commentary about the whales this book is stunning.
You can obtain Among Giants: A Life with Whales
Amazon.co.uk
For people living in Ireland or the United Kingdom, you can access: Among Giants: A Life with Whales
Amazon.ca
For Canada: Among Giants: A Life with Whales
Amazon.de
For Germany: Among Giants: A Life with Whales
Amazon.fr
For France: Among Giants: A Life with Whales
{ 1 trackback }