North Atlantic
Right Whale

• Irish name: Ceartmhíol mór an tuaiscirt
• Size: 16m
• Diet: Copepods

DESCRIPTION:

This species has a very rotund physical appearance with a large curved upper jaw, no dorsal fin and broad tail fluke. Diagnostic yellow rough clumps of skin occur around the head called callosities which can be used to identify individuals. They are black overall but sometimes have patches of white on their underside. Their baleen is extremely elongated and black in colour.

BEHAVIOUR:

Blows are “v” shaped and reach 5 m. Breaching occasionally occurs while tail fluking is frequent during deep dives. Feeding takes place using a characteristic skimming technique.

IN IRELAND:

It was long believed that the North Atlantic Righ Whale no longer occured in Irish waters, with the last sighting coming from landings at whaling operations based in Co. Mayo in the early 20th century. That was until July of 2016 when the first contemporary sightings of a North Atlantic Right Whale in Ireland was recorded at Muckross head in Co Donegal.