On your Maine “Sea-Fari”, you will experience the raw beauty of the Maine coastline and interact with various incredible wildlife. The Gulf of Maine is a diversity “hotspot” for large whales and other marine life, providing a habitat suitable for numerous species. Below are some of the marine mammal species that you may see and learn about while enjoying a Cap’n Fish Cruise.
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SCIENTIFIC NAME: Balaenoptera physalusLENGTH: 60-80 feet
WEIGHT: 40-80 tons
CONSERVATION STATUS: Endangered
DESCRIPTION: The fin whale is part of the rorqual family, the largest group of baleen whales. The fin, or finback whale, is second only to the blue whale in size and weight. Among the fastest of the great whales, it is capable of sustained speeds up to 25 mph (40 km/h) with bursts recorded up to 29 mph (47 km/h) leading to its nickname the “greyhound of the sea.” Its most unusual characteristic is the asymmetrical coloring of the lower jaw, which is white or creamy yellow on the right side and mottled black on the left side. Fin whales are found in all oceans of the world, though they seem to prefer temperate, and polar waters to tropical seas.
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SCIENTIFIC NAME: Balaenoptera borealis
LENGTH: 40-60 feet
WEIGHT: up to 50 tons
CONSERVATION STATUS: Endangered
DESCRIPTION: As a fellow rorqual family member, the sei whale is the third largest whale in the world, yet significantly differs in its behavior from other rorquals. Some features that distinguish the sei whale include having symmetrically colored gray to black lower jaws, one small ridge on the rostrum, often covered in oval-shaped scars or subtle mottling, and dorsal fin appears at the surface with the blowhole rather than after. Sei whales are found in all oceans of the world, yet their distribution and migration patterns are poorly understood. Particularly noteworthy is their unpredictable occurrences, with a sudden influx into a region followed by a disappearance and subsequent absence for many years.
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SCIENTIFIC NAME: Megaptera novaeangliae
LENGTH: 45-60 feet
WEIGHT: up to 40 tons
CONSERVATION STATUS: Protected, with some Endangered and Threatened stocks
DESCRIPTION: The humpback whale is the most distinct appearing whale of the rorqual family, with a robust body and less streamlined than other species. Humpback whales have large bumps on their head, called tubercles. Their long white pectoral flippers are the longest of all whales, about 1/3 the length of their body. Their scientific name Megaptera novaeangliae translates to “big wing of New England,” a reference their long flippers and geographic location of where the first specimen was described. They lift their flukes when they dive making visible the unique shape and color pattern of each individual, acting like a “fingerprint” to identify them with. Humpback whales are known for their acrobatics, many surface behaviors, curiosity around boats, and their complex “songs”. Humpback whales are found in all oceans of the world with regular migration routes. They are found summering in temperate and polar waters for feeding, and wintering in tropical waters for mating and calving.
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SCIENTIFIC NAME: Balaenoptera acutorostrataLENGTH: up to 35 feet
WEIGHT: up to 10 tons
CONSERVATION STATUS: Protected
DESCRIPTION: Minke whales contain the smallest species of the rorqual family. They are readily identified with a very weak or no visible spout as they begin to exhale before the blowholes reach the surface; this minimizes the blow. Minke whales have a characteristic white band on each pectoral flipper, contrasting with its very dark gray top color. They have a small dorsal fin and a point snout. They can be elusive, fast swimmers. Minke whales are found in North Atlantic and North Pacific oceans, from the tropical to polar waters. They have been known to be found right up to the edge of the icepack in polar regions.
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SCIENTIFIC NAME: Eubalaena glacialisLENGTH: 45-55 feet
WEIGHT: up to 70 tons
CONSERVATION STATUS: Endangered
DESCRIPTION: North Atlantic right whales were the first whales to be regularly hunted by commercial whalers. Their population was reduced so dramatically, they are still struggling to recover today, making them the world’s most endangered large whale species. They were sought after for being slow, easy to catch, and rich in oil, making them the “right” whales to hunt. North Atlantic right whales have large dark black colored bodies with no dorsal fin. Individuals can be identified using the patterns of callosities (white bumpy patches of rough skin) on their heads. They have a distinctive V-shaped spot and lift their flukes when they dive. North Atlantic right whales primarily inhabit North Atlantic coastal waters. They have seasonal migrations where some whales travel in the winter to the coastal regions of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida, where they birth their calves. The rest of the year is spent around New England and Canadian waters where they feed and mate.
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SCIENTIFIC NAME: Lagenorhynchus acutusLENGTH: 8-9 feet
WEIGHT: 400-500 pounds
CONSERVATION STATUS: Protected
DESCRIPTION: Atlantic white-sided dolphins are one of the most colorfully marked species of all the cetaceans! They are readily identified by the bold, well-defined white and yellowish-tan patches on their sides. The entire dorsal surface is dark gray or black, from the upper jaw of their short, thick beak through the tall, falcate dorsal fin, and to their fluke. Their underside is mostly white. Like other oceanic dolphins, Atlantic white-sided dolphins are playful, often bow/wake riding and showing off their acrobatics! They sometimes seen associating with other species including fin and humpback whales. They are found in the temperate zone of the North Atlantic Ocean.
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SCIENTIFIC NAME: Phocoena phocoena
LENGTH: 5 feet
WEIGHT: 135-170 pounds
CONSERVATION STATUS: Protected
DESCRIPTION: The harbor porpoise is a relatively small cetacean with a robust body and short, blunt beak. Their dorsal fin is medium sized with a triangular shape set midbody. Their back is dark gray fading into a white belly and throat. Gray streaks may be visible on the throat extending from a dark gray chin patch, mouth and eye. The harbor porpoise only appears at the surface very briefly with a quick rolling motion. Their behavior is often described as shy. The name harbor porpoise correctly implies their habitat, often found in fjords, bays, estuaries, and harbors, of northern temperate and subarctic waters of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
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SCIENTIFIC NAME: Phoca vitulinaLENGTH: 5-6 feet
WEIGHT: about 250 pounds
CONSERVATION STATUS: Protected
DESCRIPTION: The harbor seal may be one of the most common marine mammals on the United States coastline. As a member of the true seal family, harbor seals identify with short flippers and just a hole for an ear (no ear flaps). They are often described as having cute dog-like faces and snouts. Their fur can exhibit a range of colors including light tan, silver, blue-gray, or even red or rust colored areas with speckling or spots. Harbor seals are often seen resting on rocks and beaches or swimming around their coastal habitat of the North Atlantic and North Pacific regions.