Common Minke Whale: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Giants of the Deep · day 3 of 7

Five facts

1. Strange boing calls baffled scientists for decades. In 2002 they finally traced them to a minke whale.
2. The dwarf minke whale has a strange 'star wars' call that sounds almost artificial, like metal or a machine.
3. Some minkes slam their heads onto the water with a loud splash, then follow up with a feeding lunge.
4. Newborn minkes are 2.5-2.8 m long and weigh 150-300 kg. They are weaned at about six months old.
5. Killer whales can catch up early in a chase, at up to 30 km/h, but minkes seem to have more stamina and often get away.

The quiz

1. How long did the source of the boing calls remain a mystery?

• A few days
• Only a few weeks
• For decades (correct)
• Just a few hours

The source of the boings stayed a mystery for decades until 2002.

2. How is the dwarf minke whale's star wars call described?

• Almost artificial, like metal or a machine (correct)
• Soft, warm and musical
• Like a deep, slow drumbeat
• Like a bird chirping

The star wars call sounds almost artificial, metallic or machine-like.

3. What does a minke do after several head slaps?

• A very long sleep
• It hides behind a rock
• A dive of several hours
• A feeding lunge (correct)

After several head slaps the whale performs a feeding lunge.

4. How long are newborn minkes?

• 0.5-0.8 m
• 2.5-2.8 m (correct)
• 5.5-5.8 m
• 8.5-8.8 m

Newborn minkes measure 2.5-2.8 m.

5. What appears to help minkes escape killer whales?

• Superior endurance (correct)
• Hiding in caves
• A hard armour-like skin
• Teaming up with other whales

Minkes seem to have more stamina than killer whales and often escape.

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