The NOAA estimates that this isolated group has been severely reduced over the past several decades, from as many as 1,300 individuals in the 1970s to about 340 in 2014. The population in Cook Inlet in Alaska is protected by the U.S. This has led to population declines in those areas, such as West Greenland, where surveys found that beluga numbers had decreased by 62 percent between 19. However, they are hunted by indigenous people in the Arctic and by commercial fisheries. The population worldwide is more than 150,000 and their population is well distributed in most places. (Image credit: ©Shedd Aquarium/Brenna Hernandez) Conservation statusĪccording to the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List of Threatened Species, beluga whales are listed as near threatened. The 2-month-old baby beluga whale, born to mama Mauyak, at Chicago's Shedd Aquarium is a girl. Kingdom: Animalia Subkingdom: Bilateria Infrakingdom: Deuterostomia Phylum: Chordata Subphylum: Vertebrata Infraphylum: Gnathostomata Superclass: Tetrapoda Class: Mammalia Subclass: Theria Infraclass: Eutheria Order: Cetacea Suborder: Odontoceti (toothed whales) Family: Monodontidae (white whales) Genus: Delphinapterus Species: Delphinapterus leucas Here is the classification of beluga whales, according to the Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS):

Others believe they live 60 to 70 years based on how many teeth they lose per year, according to the NOAA. Scientists are unsure of how long beluga whales live. Calves will continue to nurse, though, and aren’t weaned until they are a year- to year-and-a-half-old.įemale belugas become mature at around 4 to 7 years and males become mature at 7 to 9 years. A thick layer of fat called blubber insulates them from cold ocean waters. And like humans, they are warm-blooded mammals who nurse their young. When they get their teeth, at 12 to 18 months, calves will start eating small sea creatures. Despite living in the water, whales breathe air. They are 4 to 6 feet (1.2 to 1.8 m) long and weigh 110 to 130 lbs. Calves are born gray, but will turn white as they mature. After a gestation of 14 to 15 months, females give birth to babies called calves. Offspringīeluga whales usually mate when the water is warmer, in March or April. Their teeth are just used for grabbing and holding prey, according to the American Cetacean Society. They make meals of snails, salmon, eulachon, crabs, shrimp, clams, octopus, squid, mussels, sandworms, cod and flounder. Typically, your average beluga whale isn’t a picky eater, according to the American Cetacean Society. (Image credit: NOAA) Dietīeluga whales are carnivores, which means they eat meat. However, it later became a success in the 20th century. They are located in a wonderfully scenic area and is considered a favorite among holiday travelers who want to benefit from the healing powers of the waters.Cook Inlet beluga whales swimming as seen from a scientific survey plane at 800 feet. Moby-Dick by Herman Melville was published in 1851, and it was not successful at the time.

They have been used since Etruscan and Roman times thanks to the healing properties of its waters. The Baths of San Filippo are not a modern creation. The springs form natural pools that allow you to swim in any season, most especially in winter. The White Whale is considered the most famous limestone monument of the Baths of San Filippo with warm waters that flow from the surrounding area and water temperatures of about 118☏. Its sulphurous waters are rich in carbonate and descend into the valley forming white limestone deposits that create some of the most spectacular formations. It is located at an altitude of 500 meters just along the River Fosso Bianco. This wonderful spa town is considered among the most beautiful springs in all of Italy, located in the province of Siena near Mount Amiata. These limestone formations create a waterfall, commonly called La Balena Bianca, the White Whale due to its strong resemblance to the mouth of a whale. Rosa and Amy track down a killer whos managed. With Andy Samberg, Stephanie Beatriz, Terry Crews, Melissa Fumero. Located in Tuscany, in the splendid area of Baths of San Filippo, lie thermal baths right in the heart of the beautiful Val d'Orcia. White Whale: Directed by Matthew Nodella.

White whale