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Name
- Common name: Beluga
- Scientific name: Dephinapterus leucas
- Order: Cetacae
- Family: Monodontidae
- Indigenous names for this species may be available through the Yukon Native Language Centre.
Also known as
White Whale
Viewing opportunities
- The white back of the Beluga whale is easy to spot from the shore but you’ll need to visit the Yukon’s northern coast for a chance.
Description
- White skin
- Round body tapers sharply at head and appears to have “shoulders.”
- Broad and short flippers that are nearly square-shaped.
- Distinctive melon shape to forehead.
Fast facts
- Length: 3 to 5 m
- Weight: 700 to 1600 kg
- Lifespan: 30 years
- Predators: Polar Bears, Orcas
- Habitat: Marine and Coastal
Conservation status
- Yukon: S4 (Apparently Secure)
- Global: G5 (Secure)
Yukon population estimate
Not determined.
Behaviour
Belugas are highly sociable and regularly form small groups up to 25 whales. Pods contain both sexes and are led by a dominant male. They show a great deal of curiosity towards humans and will frequently swim alongside boats.
Diet
Fish, shrimp, squid, crustaceans and molluscs.
Distribution
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Sights and sounds
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Belugas and people
- Belugas are harvested for subsistence by the Inuvialuit peoples along the north coast of the Yukon and the Northwest Territories. The blubber is an essential part of the Inuvialuit diet.