Whales of Antarctica: Species Guide

The Southern Ocean around Antarctica teems with whale life. Here are the key species you’ll encounter:

• Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus) – Largest animal ever; eats up to 4 tons of krill daily.
• Fin Whale (Balaenoptera physalus) – Second largest; consumes ~2 tons of krill/day.
• Sei Whale (Balaenoptera borealis) – Third largest; ~1 ton krill/day.
• Minke Whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) – Smallest baleen whale; ~500 lbs krill/day.
• Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) – Acrobatic; eats krill, fish, plankton (~1 ton/day).
• Southern Right Whale (Eubalaena australis) – Slow, coastal; up to 4 tons krill/day.
• Antarctic Minke Whale (Balaenoptera bonaerensis) – Endemic to Antarctic waters; ~500 lbs krill/day.

All rely on the Antarctic krill biomass, making the region a critical feeding ground.