Minke whale
Balaenoptera acutorostrata
Balaenoptera acutorostrata, the minke whale, is a relatively small baleen whale that feeds on schooling fish and krill.
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About this species
Species identity
Balaenoptera acutorostrata, the minke whale, is a relatively small baleen whale that feeds on schooling fish and krill. It moves widely through cold and temperate northern seas and is a recognizable top consumer in productive subpolar waters.
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 explain how marine food webs function through its ecological role, habitat use, and connection to broader ecosystem change.
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Open the tertiary consumer view and compare this species with related marine life.






