North Atlantic Right Whale Facts & Worksheets

The North Atlantic right whale is one of the world’s largest animals and one of the most endangered, with an estimated 350 left.

See the fact file below for more information on North Atlantic Right Whale, or you can download our 31-page North Atlantic Right Whale worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

TAXONOMY

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Mammalia
Order	Cetacea
Family	Balaenidae
Genus	Eubalaena
Species	glacialis

• The scientific name of the North Atlantic right whale, Eubalaena glacialis, translates to “true whale of the ice” or “good.”
• This species was given the name “right whale” because it was the “right whale to hunt” and was one of the few whale species that could float after death. It is the most accessible whale to load onto whaling ships.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION

• The North Atlantic right whale is easily distinguished by the absence of a dorsal fin on its broad back, short and paddle-like pectoral flippers, and a long arching mouth that begins above the eye.
• It is dark grey to black, with white patches on the stomachs and throats of some individuals.
• Other distinguishing characteristics include a large head that accounts for a quarter of its total body length, a narrow tail stock compared to its broad fluke, and a v-shaped blowhole.
• Right whales have callosities, rough, white patches of keratinized skin found on their heads. The callosities provide a habitat for large colonies of cyamids, also known as whale lice. These are present in fetuses before birth and are not caused by the external environment. 
• To accommodate the exceptionally long baleen, the jaws are considerably arched. Baleen can grow 5 m long with an average of 300 plates on each side.
• Females are more extensive than males due to sexual dimorphism. Adult whales average 43-52 feet in length and weigh approximately 40,000 to 70,000 kilograms. 
• Up to 45 percent of a right whale’s body weight is fat. This high percentage causes their body to float after death.

BEHAVIOR

• Though right whales are not known to be gregarious, they can be found in small groups. The average group size ranges from one whale to twelve, with two being the most common. 
• Surface-active groups, or SAGs, of right whales, can be seen actively socializing at the water’s surface. Mating and socializing are observed in SAGs in all seasons and habitats.
• They are relatively social, swimming with other types of cetaceans. North Atlantic right whales appear less active than the subspecies in the southern hemisphere. However, this could be due to a significant difference in the number of surviving individuals, particularly calves, more curious and playful than adults, and a small number of observations. They have also been observed interacting with other baleen whales, particularly humpback whales and bottlenose dolphins.
• North Atlantic right whales are migratory animals, spending the winter in warmer waters and migrating to the poles in late summer and early fall for calmer waters. 
• Right whales make simple and low-frequency noises, their most typical sound being a “belch-like utterance.” Grunting, mooing, moaning, and bellowing are some sounds to maintain contact, communicate threats, signal aggression, and other social purposes. The maximum energy (Hz) recorded in southern right whales ranged between 50 and 500, with durations ranging between 0.5 and 6.0 seconds. 

HABITAT

• North Atlantic right whales are found primarily in Atlantic coastal waters on the continental shelf, though they have been observed traveling far offshore, over deep water.
• Seasonally, right whales migrate alone or in small groups. Many of these whales can be found in the waters off New England and further north into Canadian waters in the spring, summer, and fall, where they feed and mate.
• Some right whales migrate more than 1,000 miles from these feeding grounds to their calving grounds off the coasts of South Carolina, Georgia, and northeastern Florida each fall, though migration patterns vary.

LIFESPAN

• Right whales can live for at least 70 years, but data on their average lifespan is limited due to the species’ recent scientific monitoring. After a right whale has died, ear wax can be used to estimate its age. Females now only live for about 45 years and 65 years for males. These shorter life spans are often caused by human-caused mortality, not old age.
• Researchers have discovered more adult female deaths than mature male deaths in recent years, creating a population bias that worsens over time. Females subjected to energetic stress during reproduction may be more vulnerable than males to die from chronic injuries such as entanglement or vessel strikes.

REPRODUCTION

• Males reach sexual maturity at a length of 15 meters and females at 15.5 meters. These sizes may be compared between 5 and 10 years of age.
• Mating right whales roll around randomly, exposing flippers, flukes, backs, bellies, and portions of their heads after much nuzzling and caressing. It has been observed that the male would occasionally start the precopulatory behavior by resting his chin on the female’s exposed hindquarters.
• Most right whales are polygamous, with no permanent pair bonds formed. There was no aggression between competing males, which is unusual in mammals. A courtship may last for an hour or two before each right whale parts its way. They typically mate in the winter and have their young in the spring. 
• After a year of pregnancy, females give birth to only one calf. When they are born, the right whales are 4.5 to 6 meters long. They grow quickly after that, reaching a length of 12 meters by 18 months. 
• A three-year interval between right whale births is considered normal or healthy. However, females now have calves every 6 to 10 years on average. One of the reasons that females are giving birth to calves less frequently, according to biologists, is the added stress brought on by entanglement.

FOOD AND PREDATION

• North Atlantic right whales feed on small copepods, mysids, decapods, and euphausiids near water’s surface. The whale will skim the surface for a few moments before closing its mouth and pressing its tongue against the baleen to collect its prey. 
• The North Atlantic right whale is a forager, consuming mostly pelagic crustaceans. They do not hunt and are not regarded as predators by humans. Instead, the right whale is classified as a filter feeder. They feed anywhere in the water column, from the surface to the bottom.
• Although a right whale’s formidable size protects them from most predators, calves may be targeted by killer whales and sharks. In such cases, they form a circle with flailing tails pointing outwards. They also attempt to flee by moving to shallow water.

THREATS

Entanglements

• Entanglement in fishing gear can sever a whale’s body, causing severe injuries, infections, and death. Even if the gear is removed, the time spent entangled can severely stress a whale, weaken it, prevent it from feeding, and deplete the energy required to swim, feed, and reproduce. 

Vessel Strikes

• Right whale habitat and migration routes are close to major ports along the Atlantic coast and frequently overlap with shipping lanes, making them vulnerable to vessel collisions. 

• These collisions can result in broken bones, severe internal injuries, and propeller cuts. A right whale can be injured or killed by a vessel of any size. When a vessel collides with a whale, there is a greater likelihood of serious injury or death.

Climate Change

• Climate change, specifically oceanographic changes in the Northwest Atlantic, contributes to decreased reproduction and increased susceptibility to human-caused threats. Right whale distribution patterns have shifted over the last decade, most likely in response to changes in prey location and availability caused by warming oceans. As their prey shifted, the whales began to spend more time in areas with fewer safeguards against vessel strikes and entanglements.

Ocean Noise

• Human-caused ocean noise which includes shipping, boating, construction, and energy exploration and development, can disrupt the right whales’ typical behavior and interfere with their communication. It may also impair their ability to detect and avoid predators and human dangers, navigate, identify physical surroundings, find food, and mate.

CONSERVATION

• Right whale hunting dates back to the 10th century. During the 19th century, these whales were extensively hunted, with up to 100,000 whales slaughtered. They were nearly extinct in the early 20th century and were among the first whales to receive international protection in 1935. A total ban on hunting right whales was established at the first International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling in 1935. The Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 expanded the scope of its protection. 
• The species is federally protected in Canada under the Species at Risk Act (SARA).
• Habitat modification is a significant issue in the conservation of the right whale, especially since they breed in shallow coastal lagoons and bays.
• Since 1970, North Atlantic right whales have been listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act in the United States. According to the most recent preliminary estimate, there are fewer than 350 remaining, with fewer than 100 breeding females.
• These whales are in danger of becoming extinct unless significant changes are made. Conservationists are working to create designated, protected habitats for the right whales to keep them safe.

North Atlantic Right Whale Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about the North Atlantic Right Whale across 31 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about the North Atlantic Right Whale, a critically endangered species of whale found off the coast of North America.

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

• North Atlantic Right Whale Facts 
• Classified!
• Build Me Up
• Range Search
• Search to Reproduce
• Right Diet
• Entangled
• Letter for Help
• North Atlantic, Right!
• Right Whale or Wrong Whale
• My Right Whale

Frequently Asked Questions

What do North Atlantic Right Whales look like?

North Atlantic Right Whales are large whales that can grow up to 52 feet (16 meters) in length and weigh up to 70 tons. They are black in color and have a large, rotund body with no dorsal fin. They have white patches on their head and chin, which help to identify individual whales.

Where do North Atlantic Right Whales live?

North Atlantic Right Whales are found in the North Atlantic Ocean, mostly in the waters off the coast of Canada and the United States. They migrate between their feeding grounds in the Gulf of Maine and Canada, and their calving grounds off the coast of Florida and Georgia.

What do North Atlantic Right Whales eat?

North Atlantic Right Whales mostly eat zooplankton, small shrimplike crustaceans. They filter the plankton out of the water using baleen plates in their mouths.

How long do North Atlantic Right Whales live?

North Atlantic Right Whales can live for up to 100 years.

Are North Atlantic Right Whales endangered?

Yes, North Atlantic Right Whales are considered critically endangered. Their population has been severely reduced by hunting, ship strikes, and entanglement in fishing gear. Today, it’s estimated that there are only around 400 individuals remaining. Conservation efforts are underway to protect and conserve the species from extinction.

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