Sei Whale: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Giants of the Deep · day 2 of 7

Five facts

1. The sei whale is one of the fastest whales: it can reach 50-55 km/h over short distances.
2. Sei whales feed near the surface, rolling onto one side to swim through clouds of prey. They eat about 900 kg a day on average.
3. Its baleen bristles are extremely fine, about 0.1 mm thick. This is the surest way to tell it apart from other rorquals.
4. Sei whales migrate every year, from cool sub-polar waters in summer to temperate, subtropical seas in winter. They can live up to 70 years.
5. Weighing up to 28 tonnes, the sei whale is the third-largest rorqual, after the blue and fin whales.

The quiz

1. How fast can a sei whale burst for short distances?

• 20-25 km/h
• 50-55 km/h (correct)
• 80-85 km/h
• 10-15 km/h

Sei whales can reach 50-55 km/h over short distances.

2. How does a sei whale swim through swarms of prey?

• Upside down
• Straight down
• On its side (correct)
• In tight circles

It feeds near the surface, lying on its side as it swims through its prey.

3. How thick are the bristles of a sei whale's baleen?

• 0.1 mm (correct)
• 1 cm
• 80 cm
• 2 mm

Its baleen bristles are only about 0.1 mm thick.

4. How long can a sei whale live?

• Up to 10 years
• Up to 25 years
• Up to 40 years
• Up to 70 years (correct)

Sei whales can live up to 70 years.

5. Where does the sei whale rank in size among rorquals?

• First
• Third, behind the blue and fin whales (correct)
• Second, behind the blue whale only
• Fourth, behind the humpback

It is the third-largest rorqual, after the blue and fin whales.

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