Bowhead or Right Whale

Bowhead Whales, named for their massive bow-shaped skulls, are magnificent giants of the Arctic. Their stocky build, absent dorsal fins, and thick blubber layer make them perfectly adapted to the frigid Arctic waters. They are the fifth-largest mammals on Earth, stretching from 49 to 65 feet in length and weighing up to 100 tons. Unlike most cetaceans, Bowheads lack teeth and use their baleen plates like giant combs to filter marine invertebrates, consuming over 600 pounds of food daily. Their beautifully haunting calls echo through icy realms, aiding their navigation, communication, and survival. Hunted by whalers in the 1800s for their valuable oils and baleens, they  were dubbed ‘Right' whales because of their commercial value—abundant oil and flexible baleens. Listed as Endangered in 1970, Bowheads face extinction from climate change, shipping, pollution, and entanglement in fishing gear.