Whales - Species | Northern Bottlenose Whale

Northern Bottlenose Whale - Hyperoodon ampullatus

The Northern Bottlenose Whale measures between 6m and 9m, but large males can reach up to 9.8m long. Its forehead is large and distinctive (especially in males), and its snout resembles a dolphin’s beak. Long, slender bodies are topped by a triangular dorsal fin, and the pectoral fins are small and pointed. The tail is broad and concave. The Northern Bottlenose Whale is born quite dark, but becomes paler as it ages. As adults, they are pale grey or brown, while a whiter belly. Most males develop two large teeth as they reach adulthood.

The Northern Bottlenose Whale prefers water deeper than 1000m, particularly above submarine canyons and clear of continental shelves in the northern oceans. They migrate on a seasonal basis.

The Northern Bottlenose Whale has been the victim of whale-hunters. This sad state has been greatly intensified by their social demeanor as they are drawn to whaling ships out of sheer curiosity. They also tend to stick close to injured companions, which means that whaling ships need only hurt one to attract a host of others. As a result, they suffered a significant decrease in population numbers. Tens of thousands were hunted and slaughtered between 1850 and 1973. Since 1977, the Northern Bottlenose Whale has e=been protected and is listed as “Vulnerable” by the IUCN. Other dangers to the whale include pollution and fishing nets.

The Northern Bottlenose Whale dives for extended periods of time, usually in the waters of the Northern Atlantic Ocean. In fact, they can stay submerged for up to 2 hours, making them a difficult specimen to view on whale-watching excursions. Their blow is clear, and their call distinctive. The sonar of the Northern Bottlenose Whale is highly developed and used for hunting fish, shrimp and invertebrates. This gregarious beast enjoys playing with its mates, often making physical contact.

This species of whale is a sociable one, and usually travels in pods of between 5 and 15. Depending on the time of year, these pods will be broken according to the sex of the whales. Whales of the same sex are known to form lasting relationships through the course of their approximately 35 to 40 years of life span. Sexual maturity is reached at 7 to 11 years for males and 8 to 12 years for females