Distribution and Habitat
Canadian waters are rich in whale fauna (8 species of mysticetes, about 25 species of odontocetes), and the commercial search for these animals was significant in early exploration (see WHALING).
Because of overexploitation, several species are rare, eg, bowhead (Balaena mysticetus), an arctic mysticete; right whale (Eubalaena glacialis), a temperate zone mysticete; and blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus), largest animal ever known.
The grey whale (Eschrichtius robustus) was extirpated in the N Atlantic and depleted in the N Pacific. Today, however, its migration along the N American Pacific coast is one of the world's great wildlife spectacles.
The cosmopolitan sperm whale (Physeter catodon), the largest odontocete, preys mainly on SQUID and usually remains in deep water. Adult bulls seasonally visit high latitudes; females and young remain in temperate or tropical waters.
The beaked whales (family Ziphiidae) are rare in coastal areas, but Baird's beaked whale (Berardius bairdii) off the BC coast, and the northern bottlenose (Hyperoodon ampullatus) off NS, have been hunted by shore-based whalers.
Whales of Canada
1. grey whale, 2. Minke whale, 3. Pacific white-sided dolphin, 4. Dall's porpoise, 5. harbour porpoise, 6. humpback whale, 7. killer whale, 8. long-finned pilot whale, 9. Northern right whale, 10. bowhead whale, 11. Atlantic white-sided dolphin, 12. Stejneger's beaked whale, 13. white-beaked dolphin, 14. Sie whale, 15. Northern bottlenose whale, 16. narwhal, 17. fin whale, 18. blue whale, 19. sperm whale, 20. beluga, 21. Cuvier's beaked whale (artwork by Pieter Folkens).
Bowhead Whale
Over exploitation of the bowhead whale led to measures to protect it in 1937 (artwork by Heather Caldwell).
Right Whale
The right whale was the first whale species commercially exploited and it was almost driven to extinction (artwork by Heather Caldwell).
Whale Watching
Since the 1972 moratorium on commercial whaling in Canada, whale watching has become popular. Several species, especially BELUGA, fin and minke whales (Delphinapterus leucas, Balaenoptera physalus, B. acutorostrata, respectively) and blue whales occur along the N shore of the ST LAWRENCE R estuary.
Pilot (Globicephala melaena), humpback and fin whales are the main attractions off Newfoundland; right, fin and humpback whales in lower Bay of FUNDY; killer whales (Orcinus orca), humpback (Megaptera novaeangliae) and grey whales off BC. The humpback whale is known for its haunting "song".
See also ENDANGERED ANIMALS.
Killer Whale
Also called Orca, the killer whale can be seen off the coast of British Columbia (Corel Professional Photos).
Orca Whales
Orca whales at sea (courtesy Masterfile).
Humpback Whale
The humpback whale is known for its haunting song (Corel Professional Photos).
Author R. REEVES AND E.D. MITCHELL
Links to Other Sites
Canadian Biodiversity Website
A great information source for all budding biologists. Learn about biodiversity theory, natural history, and conservation issues. From McGill’s Redpath Museum.
Bay of Fundy
Explore the many scenic around the Bay of Fundy. From the website for the Bay of Fundy Tourism Partnership.
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