Beluga Whale (Delphinapterus leucas)

Beluga Whale
(Delphinapterus leucas)
Photo: NMFS National Marine Mammal Laboratory

Did You Know?

· Belugas are known as the "canaries of the sea" because of the vast range of sounds they produce .

· They can weigh over 2 tons as adults.

· Belugas are pinkish brown or dark gray in color when born and gradually turn white as they get older.

· The name beluga comes from the Russian word "bielo" for white.

· Unlike other whales, belugas have flexible necks, allowing them to move their heads separate from their bodies.

Status
Proposed ESA Endangered - Cook Inlet
MMPA Depleted - Cook Inlet
ESA Species of Concern - Cook Inlet

Taxonomy
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Cetacea
Family: Monodontidae
Genus: Delphinapterus
Species: leucas

Key Documents
(All documents are in PDF format.)

Title	Federal Register	Date
Status Review for Cook Inlet population (2008)	n/a	04/2008
2006 Status Review for Cook Inlet population	71 FR 14836	03/24/2006
6-Month Extension Regarding Petition to List the Cook Inlet Beluga Whale DPS Under the Endangered Species Act	73 FR 21578	04/22/2008
Proposed Endangered Status for the Cook Inlet Beluga Whale "Distinct Population Segment" (DPS)	72 FR 19854	04/20/2007
90-Day Finding for a Petition To List the Cook Inlet population as Endangered under the ESA	71 FR 44614	08/07/2006
Depleted Designation for Cook Inlet population	65 FR 34590	05/31/2000
Draft Conservation Plan for the Cook Inlet population	70 FR 12853	03/16/2005
Stock Assessment Reports	n/a	various

More Information