Fin whale
It feeds mainly on krill, a type of zooplankton that resembles a small crayfish, but also on small fish that form shoals (e.g. sardines, anchovies), squids and crustaceans.
18-25 m long, 75 tons in weight.
It can live up to 100 years.
Endangered (IUCN, 2021)
It is the second largest animal on the planet, the largest in Greece and the fastest whale species in the world. It prefers deep offshore waters, where there are large concentrations of zooplankton, its favorite food.
External features
It is distinguished by its slender and aerodynamic shape and pointed snout, as well as its hook-shaped dorsal fin. Its color ranges from silver-grey to dark grey on the dorsum, while the belly is white. The area of its blowholes is characteristic, as it is slightly elevated and consists of two symmetrical and independent nostrils.
Habitat
It is found most often in the North Ionian Sea, while it can be encountered, more rarely, in the Aegean Sea. It is usually found offshore and less often near the coast, west of Lefkada and Kefalonia, with seldom occurrences south of the Peloponnese, off of Gavdos, south of Karpathos, and even in enclosed bays such as the Corinthian and Saronic gulfs.
Population in Greece
There are no detailed data on the Greek population.
Fun Fact!
Its heart is the size of a small car!