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Sei Whale

Sei Whale
Phylum : Chordata
Class : Mammalia
Order : Cetacea
Family : Balaenopteridae
Genus : Balaenoptera
Species : borealis

Length : 65ft (20m)
Weight : 99,000lbs (45,000kg)

IUCN Status : Endangered

Sei Whales (pronounced "say") are named after the Norwegian word for pollock fish, "seje." The Whales and fish moved into fishing areas around the same time. Though their name has Norwegian origins, Sei Whales can actually be found in tropical, temperate, and sub-polar oceans around the world.

Sei Whales are one of the longest whale species, with many individuals not even reaching sexual maturity until they are around 45ft (13m) long. Females are often slightly longer than males. Sei Whales also have the distinction of being one of the fastest swimming cetaceans. They can reach speeds of 35mph (55kph).

Unfortunately, whaling has had a drastic impact on the worldwide Sei Whale population. It is now believed that there around only around 57,000 whales left, which is amazingly few when you consider that during the 1964-65 season nearly 25,000 whales were killed. Nearly 300,000 Sei Whales have been taken since the advent of modern whaling. Sei Whales are now listed on CITES and are protected under the Endangered Species act.
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  1. Emma SpringfieldMarch 8, 2011 at 12:08 AM

    I never even heard of the Sei Whale before. You always have an interesting animal. Some I know and some I don't. I have had such fun going through your archives. I even learned a few things.
    Animal A Day is Nature Site of the Week at Nature Center Magazine.

    Emma Springfield

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