A Tale of A Whale

What do Galaxy, Snake Eyes, Spitball, Half Note and Anchor all have in common? They are all
names of right whales (Eubalaena glacialis), observed by researchers off our coast. What are
whales doing in Florida and why do scientists give them such odd names?
Every winter, right whales migrate from cooler northern waters to warmer waters extending from
Savannah, Georgia to Cape Canaveral, Florida. These relatively shallow, calm and warm waters
are their calving grounds. The area provides almost all that a right whale could want for an ideal
nursery.
There are a few problems. Considering that whalers nearly hunted the right whales to extinction
by the early 1900s, any problem is going to significantly impact such a small population. Right
whales' value as whaling quarry is how they got their name. They were slow moving, floated when
dead, had fine, flexible baleen and were full of valuable whale fat. They were the "right" whale to
hunt.

Right whales migrate to this area every winter.
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Today, the endangered population in the Atlantic is estimated at 300 whales. Threats in the calving grounds here include habitat degradation and marine vessel traffic. A 1998 publication by the Florida Marine Research Institute [FMRI] notes that collisions with these ships are responsible for 30 percent of documented right whale deaths in the North Atlantic Ocean during the last 15 years.
Because of these threats, researchers also gather here when the cetacean

"snowbirds" arrive for the winter months. Teams from the New England Aquarium, The Florida Marine Research Institute, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, the U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S. Navy, are working together to help protect this critical habitat for the right whales.
     Their focus is preventing ships from colliding with whales. Through a wide area communication
network developed by FMRI, sighting information taken by aerial surveyors is dispersed to the
marine community. The effort seems to be working. Since the 1996-1997 calving season, no
collisions have been reported.
     Other objectives of the survey teams are to collect information on the behaviors and general life
history of the whales and to photograph individuals for identification. This is where those odd names
are helpful.
     All right whales have distinctive bumpy growths on their heads. These are called callosities.
Parasitic whale lice (cyamids) make the extrusions white. These help researchers identify each
whale by his or her own unique pattern. All the whales are given an identification number. In
addition, some whales get a name indicative of their pattern of bumps. Galaxy's pattern resembles a
galaxy of stars. Spitball has a fleck of white splatted off to the side. Imagine what the callosity
patterns are of Snake Eyes, Half Note and Anchor!
     Some whales seem to use these growths for themselves, too. Males have been recorded using
their callosities as bulls use horns for fighting. Although the skin bumps don't have the potential to
gouge like a horn, they are rough enough to give a good scrape. Add several tons of whale power
behind that callosity and it is doubtlessly unpleasant.
     Another form of defense is the whale's tail. Females often defend their calves with their tail. Right
whales have been observed to hold their tail "cocked" for several seconds when approached by
boats or other whales. Just the threat of a good wallop with those flukes must be effective.
     Right whales also have fun with their tails. Some like to catch a breeze (they seem to prefer winds
between 9 and 19 miles per hour) with their tail raised and may sail for 20 minutes at a time. Tail
sailing jaunts may last for hours. This behavior, which is much more common in the South Atlantic
Right Whale, seems to be for play more than locomotion.
     The unique, sometimes odd, characteristics of right whales are helping researchers identify,
understand and ultimately protect their species. Hopefully, the conditions off Amelia Island and
nearby shores will remain safe and healthy calving grounds for these winter visitors.
     For more information on how you can help, check out the Florida Marine Research Institute at
www.fmri.usf.edu . Look for whale watch posters at area state parks and observe all laws enacted
in the right whales' behalf. Right whales are unique creatures truly deserving of our protection.