Minke Whale
Balaenoptera acutorostrata
It is a rorqual whale with elongated body and pointed head. It can reach up to 10 meters in length, being the smallest representative of its taxonomic suborder: Mysticeti (cetaceans with baleen). It has a prominent dorsal fin, with a characteristic white spot in the pectoral fins and its mouth has baleen instead of teeth. The dorsal area is dark grey whereas the abdomen and flanks area white. They are generally solitary animals with the exception of times of migration and reproduction. Displaying a unwary behaviour, they are easily observed in the proximity of boats and other cetaceans. They feed on small crustaceans and schooling fish. With a broad distribution, they occur in Northern and Southern hemispheres and in both ocean and coastal waters. In Portugal, they occur regularly and some groups are resident. It is the most abundant baleen whale along our coast and therefore the one that strands more often.
