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Species

Minke whale

Balaenoptera acutorostrata

The minke whale is a mobile baleen whale that feeds on schooling fish and krill in productive northern waters.

Ecoregions
Norwegian Current
Ecoregion types
Polar & Subpolar
Trophic levels
Tertiary Consumer

Video

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About this species

Species identity

Balaenoptera acutorostrata is a relatively small baleen whale found across the North Atlantic. It tracks dense prey concentrations and acts as a top consumer in Norwegian Current food webs.

Where it lives

Minke whales are widely distributed across the North Atlantic and frequently feed in Norwegian and Barents Sea waters during productive seasons. They use current systems and prey concentrations to track feeding opportunities.

Role in the ecosystem

Minke whale helps connect subpolar plankton and forage-fish dynamics to large marine mammals.

Citation

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pocean.2024.103361

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Open the tertiary consumer view and compare this species with related marine life.