The majestic Southern Right Our Wildlife Fact Sheet Southern Whale Whale is one of Victoria’s most Figure 1. Southern Whale tail fluke and blow pattern © B. Jarrett 2010 loved species and is the only large whale to spend long periods of Figure 2. Southern Right Whale © DSE 2007 time close to shore. From Nelson Diet to Mallacoota, there’s a good Southern Whales are one of the largest animals on chance you’ll see one of these earth, yet they eat some of the smallest creatures in the ocean, feeding on tiny and . special creatures during winter. They are part of a group known as baleen whales. These whales have no teeth. Instead they have a series of filters in their mouths called baleen plates. Species name Baleen plates can be over 2.5 m long and are Eubalaena australis suspended from each side of the whale’s upper jaw. To feed, Southern Right Whales skim along the surface Did you know? of the water with their mouths open. When they close Southern Whales can be identified by the lack of a their mouths, the baleen plates trap food and push the dorsal fin and distinctive skin growths called callosities water out. on their heads. These look like barnacles and occur on top of the head, chin and lower jaw. Habitat Callosities are as unique as a human’s fingerprint. This Southern Whales live in cool seas in the Southern is how individual whales can be identified. Hemisphere. They migrate each year traveling between different areas at different times. Southern Right Whales have two blow holes, which result in a bushy shaped blow that can reach up to 5 “V” During summer, they feed in sub-Antarctic waters of the m high. Southern Ocean. During winter and spring, they move to warmer waters Description off the southern coast of Australia, South America, Southern Right Whales are large and stocky whales. South Africa and New Zealand. Their body colour is usually black with white patches on the belly. They have a narrow head with a strongly Distribution arched mouth. During winter, Southern Right Whales can be found Southern Whales do not have a dorsal fin. Their along most of Victoria’s coastline most commonly in – pectoral fins are broad and rectangular in shape. the south western Victorian region. They usually travel close to the surface in pairs or Whales weigh about 80 tonnes and can grow to groups of three, with larger numbers coming together at over 18 m in length. important calving areas.
Our Wildlife Fact Sheet Southern Whale The majestic Southern Right Whale is one of Victoria’s most loved species and is the only large whale to spend long periods of time close to shore. From Nelson to Mallacoota, there’s a good chance you’ll see one of these special creatures during winter. Species name Eubalaena australis Did you know? Southern Whales can be identified by the lack of a dorsal fin and distinctive skin growths called callosities on their heads. These look like barnacles and occur on top of the head, chin and lower jaw. Callosities are as unique as a human’s fingerprint. This is how individual whales can be identified. Southern Right Whales have two blow holes, which result in a bushy “V” shaped blow that can reach up to 5 m high. Description Southern Right Whales are large and stocky whales. Their body colour is usually black with white patches on the belly. They have a narrow head with a strongly arched mouth. Southern Whales do not have a dorsal fin. Their pectoral fins are broad and rectangular in shape. Whales weigh about 80 tonnes and can grow to over 18 m in length. Figure 1. Southern Whale tail fluke and blow pattern © B. Jarrett 2010 Figure 2. Southern Right Whale © DSE 2007 Diet Southern Whales are one of the largest animals on earth, yet they eat some of the smallest creatures in the ocean, feeding on tiny and . They are part of a group known as baleen whales. These whales have no teeth. Instead they have a series of filters in their mouths called baleen plates. Baleen plates can be over 2.5 m long and are suspended from each side of the whale’s upper jaw. To feed, Southern Right Whales skim along the surface of the water with their mouths open. When they close their mouths, the baleen plates trap food and push the water out. Habitat Southern Whales live in cool seas in the Southern Hemisphere. They migrate each year traveling between different areas at different times. During summer, they feed in sub-Antarctic waters of the Southern Ocean. During winter and spring, they move to warmer waters off the southern coast of Australia, South America, South Africa and New Zealand. Distribution During winter, Southern Right Whales can be found along most of Victoria’s coastline – most commonly in the south western Victorian region. They usually travel close to the surface in pairs or groups of three, with larger numbers coming together at important calving areas.