Sei Whale

Scientific name: Balaenoptera borealis

Gaelic name: Muc-mhara-sei

Among the fastest whale

Sei Whales are baleen whales. Like most other baleen whales, they spend the winters in warm waters and migrate to cold seas to feed in summer. Sei Whales are among the fastest whales, swimming at speed of up to 50 Kph.

The Sei Whale calves are usually born in winter. They become adult at 7. Sei Whales can live up to 70.

Physical Description

Sei Whales look like Fin Whales. they are dark grey but they have a greyish white area on their throat and ventral surface. Their body is slim, the beak is pointed.

They can be up to 18 metres (or 2 school buses) and weigh around 20 000 kg (around 7 elephants).

Feeding

Sei whales feed on surface plankton and sometimes small fish and squid.

Behaviour

Sei Whales are normally found alone or in small pods (2-5 individuals).

They often swim close to the surface.

Threats

Sei Whales are threatened by noise and pollution.

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