Grey Whale: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Whale Week · day 6 of 7

Five facts

1. Gray whales have collected many old nicknames, such as devilfish, desert whale and mussel digger.
2. Its round trip of 16,000 to 22,000 km is thought to be the longest yearly journey of any mammal.
3. To feed, a gray whale rolls onto its side and scoops up mud from the seabed, mainly to catch amphipods and ghost shrimp.
4. In the lagoons of Baja California, gray whales often swim so close to boats that tourists can stroke them.
5. Gray whales reproduce in shallow lagoons, which are believed to protect newborns from sharks and orcas.

The quiz

1. Which is one of the gray whale's nicknames?

• Sea unicorn
• Ice giant
• Devilfish (correct)
• Singing whale

One of its nicknames is devilfish.

2. How long is the gray whale's round trip?

• 16,000-22,000 km (correct)
• 1,600-2,200 km
• 6,000-8,000 km
• 60,000-70,000 km

Its 16,000 to 22,000 km round trip is thought to be the longest yearly migration of any mammal.

3. How does a gray whale scoop up the sea floor?

• By leaping from the water
• By turning on its side (correct)
• By swimming upside down
• By digging with its tail

It rolls onto its side and scoops up mud from the seabed.

4. What do gray whales in Baja's lagoons often let tourists do?

• Ride on them
• Feed them fish
• Tag them
• Pet them (correct)

They often swim close enough to boats for visitors to touch them.

5. What are the shallow lagoons believed to protect newborns from?

• Sharks and orcas (correct)
• Storms and big waves
• Cold currents
• Ships and fishing nets

The lagoons are believed to protect newborns from sharks and orcas.

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