Minke << MIHNG kee >> whale is a relatively small whale that lives in all oceans from the polar regions to the tropics. Female minke whales reach a maximum length of about 33 feet (10 meters) and males are slightly smaller. A minke whale has a slender body that is black or dark gray on top and lighter below. It has a high, sharply curved dorsal fin on the rear part of the back. Minke whales that live north of the equator typically have a wide white band on their flippers.
Some minke whales migrate, especially those found in and near polar areas. Other minkes have been observed year around in certain coastal areas. In waters near Antarctica, minke whales feed mainly on tiny shellfish called krill. In other areas, minke whales mainly eat whatever fish are abundant.
Hundreds of thousands of minke whales live in the world’s oceans. Most nations have banned the hunting of all types of whales to protect them from extinction. However, Japan, Norway, and several other countries permit limited minke whale hunting.
