Southern Right WhaleSouthern Right Whale(Eubalaena australis)(Eubalaena australis)

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References: Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New ZealandSouthern Right Whale: Wikipedia

Presented by Wiremu James BarrettRm 3, Centennial Park School

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DescriptionDescription

• Like other right whales, Southern Right Like other right whales, Southern Right Whales are readily distinguished from other Whales are readily distinguished from other whales by the callosities on their heads, a whales by the callosities on their heads, a broad back without a dorsal fin, and a long broad back without a dorsal fin, and a long arching mouth that begins above the eye. arching mouth that begins above the eye. The body of the whale is very dark grey or The body of the whale is very dark grey or black, occasionally with some white patches black, occasionally with some white patches on the belly. The right whale's callosities on the belly. The right whale's callosities appear white, not due to skin pigmentation, appear white, not due to skin pigmentation, but to large colonies of cyamids or whale but to large colonies of cyamids or whale lice.lice.

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•How big is it?How big is it?

•Why is it called the Right Why is it called the Right whale?whale?

•How high does the blowhole How high does the blowhole blow?blow?

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How high does the blowhole How high does the blowhole blow?blow?

• 4 to 5 metres high4 to 5 metres high

• 10 metres high10 metres high

• 1 metre1 metre

Why is it called the right Why is it called the right whale?whale?

• Because it always swims on its Because it always swims on its right sideright side

• Because they were the ‘right’ Because they were the ‘right’ whale to catchwhale to catch

• Because they live in the right Because they live in the right hemispherehemisphere

• Southern Right Whales spend the summer Southern Right Whales spend the summer months in the far Southern Ocean feeding, months in the far Southern Ocean feeding, probably close to Antarctica. They migrate north probably close to Antarctica. They migrate north in winter for breeding and can be seen around in winter for breeding and can be seen around the coasts of Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Chile, the coasts of Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Chile, Mozambique, New Zealand and South Africa. Mozambique, New Zealand and South Africa. The total population is estimated to be between The total population is estimated to be between seven and eight thousand. Since hunting of the seven and eight thousand. Since hunting of the Southern Right Whale ceased, stocks are Southern Right Whale ceased, stocks are estimated to have grown by 7% a year. It estimated to have grown by 7% a year. It appears that the South American, South African appears that the South American, South African and Australasian groups intermix very little, if at and Australasian groups intermix very little, if at all, because the fidelity of a mother to its all, because the fidelity of a mother to its feeding and calving habitats is very strong. The feeding and calving habitats is very strong. The mother also passes these instincts to her calves.mother also passes these instincts to her calves.

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•One behavior unique to One behavior unique to Southern Right Whales, known Southern Right Whales, known as sailing is that of using their as sailing is that of using their elevated flukes to catch the elevated flukes to catch the wind. It appears to be a form of wind. It appears to be a form of play and is commonly seen off play and is commonly seen off the coast of Argentina and the coast of Argentina and South Africa.South Africa.

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• Southern Right Whales are almost Southern Right Whales are almost indistinguishable from the closely indistinguishable from the closely related Atlantic Northern Right Whale related Atlantic Northern Right Whale and the North Pacific Right Whale, and the North Pacific Right Whale, with only some minor skull differences. with only some minor skull differences. They may have fewer callosities on They may have fewer callosities on their head and more on their lower lips their head and more on their lower lips than the northern species. The than the northern species. The maximum size of an adult female is maximum size of an adult female is 18.5 m (61 feet) and approximately 18.5 m (61 feet) and approximately 130 tons.130 tons.

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CORRECT!CORRECT!

• The Southern Right whale is so The Southern Right whale is so called because they were called because they were thought to be the “right” whale thought to be the “right” whale to catch by whalers. They are to catch by whalers. They are very rich in oil and whale bone, very rich in oil and whale bone, and when they are killed, they and when they are killed, they float on the water.float on the water.

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• The Southern Right whale blows The Southern Right whale blows water through its blow hole up water through its blow hole up to 4 and 5 metres high. The to 4 and 5 metres high. The Southern Right Whale blows the Southern Right Whale blows the water in a ‘V’ shape and this also water in a ‘V’ shape and this also helps identify the whale.helps identify the whale.

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•Small . Small .

•Medium .Medium .

•Large.Large.BACK

How big is the Southern Right How big is the Southern Right whale?whale?

•Sorry, try again!Sorry, try again!

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•Sorry, try again!Sorry, try again!

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•Sorry, try again!Sorry, try again!

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Correct, well done!Correct, well done!

•It is large and stockyIt is large and stocky

•It can weigh up to 41,000 It can weigh up to 41,000 kgskgs

•Its length is 14 – 18 Its length is 14 – 18 metresmetres

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