Scientific Classification
KINGDOM: Animalia
PHYLUM: Chordata
CLASS: Mammalia
ORDER: Artiodactyla
FAMILY: Balaenopteridae
GENUS: Balaenoptera
SPECIES: B. bonaerensis
Conservation Status
Minke whales are categorized as baleen whales since they have around 300 baleen plates in their mouth, which is made up of the protein that is found in human fingernails.
The Antarctic minke whale is one of two species of minke whales, the other being the Atlantic minke whale. It was not recognized as its own distinct species until the 1990s and is the second smallest baleen whale.
The Antarctic and Atlantic minke whales used to exist together but split from each other almost 5 million years ago during a disruption of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current.
Antarctic minke whales are usually solitary or can be found in small pods of 2-4 whales. The largest recorded sighting was 60 Antarctic minke whales! The minke whales will communicate with the group through a variety of sounds such as whistles, clicks, grunts, and incredibly loud songs. These songs are usually around 150 decibels, which is as loud as a jet taking off, and can be heard for miles!