Beluga Whale

large variety of fish, various crustaceans and other bottom living invertebrates

Subarctic area

East Pacific; Eastern Atlantic Ocean, Europe and Northern Asia (excluding China); Indo-West Pacific; Western Atlantic Ocean

mostly coastal, also in estuaries and rivers

inshore including estuaries and rivers in summer, sometimes offshore

Near Threatened (NT)

subpopulation Cook Inlet beluga whale : Critically Endangered (CR)

Distinguishing characteristics: Belugas are white-colored whales with a fusiform body shape and a large melon on the head. This melon is thought by some to focus echolocation tones, although this is in question. The melon can also be used as an indicator of health (poorly nourished belugas have low flat melons while well fed individuals have round melons) and of emotional state--agressive individuals raise their melons forward. There are no dorsal fins. Thirty-eight teeth are present. Males are larger than females.