Southern Fin whale (Balaenoptera quoyi)
Group formation: Solitary-gregarious (2-15 loose, feeding groups > 100)
Size: males 22-25 m, females 24-27 m, calf 6.5 m
Weight: 40-80 t, calf 1.8 t
Spout: ca. 6 m, narrow
Age: 90-140 yrs
Sexual maturity: 6-12 yrs
Physical maturity: 20-30 yrs
Gestation: 11 mths, 2-3 yrs between births
Weaning: 6-7 mths
Diet: mostly euphausiids and amphipods, and some small schooling fish.
Distribution: Northern and Southern hemisphere sub-species, cosmopolitan from tropic to Polar Regions
Chile: Southern hemisphere population migrates yearly between the equator and Antarctica. In the Gulf of Corcovado, fin whales are seen feeding during the months December-March either solitary, mother calf pairs or in larger feeding groups.
Population size: global ca. 100.000-190.000, heavily exploited
Conservation Status: Endangered A1d ver 3.1, Pop. trend: unknown
Threats: Vessel collisions, whaling (Iceland, Greenland, Japan), plastic pollution, man-made noise impacts (seismic surveys, military sonar), over fishing (e.g. krill in Antarctica)
