Eschrichtius robustus (California Gray Whale)

Overview

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Interesting Facts

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Gray Whale (Eschrichtius robustus). The Northwest Pacific (Asia) gray whale stock is assessed as Critically Endangered on the basis that it is geographically distinct , and is thought to have less than 50 reproductive individuals. This subpopulation was hunted to near extinction and remains severely depleted . The potential impacts of industrial activity throughout the subpopulation’s known range are poorly understood. Globally, the species is still Lower Risk/conservation dependent . (Ref 100465)

Common Names

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Click on the language to view common names.

Common Names in Czech:

plejtvák šedý, plejtvákovec šedý, velryba šedá

Common Names in Danish:

Gråhval

Common Names in Dutch:

Grijze walvis

Common Names in English:

California Gray Whale, Devil fish, Gray back, gray whale, grey whale, Hard head, Long-Beaked Saddleback Dolphin, Mussel Digger, Pacific grey whale, Rip sack

Common Names in French:

Baleine ? six bosses, Baleine à six bosses, Baleine grise, Baleine grise de Californie

Common Names in German:

Grauwal

Common Names in Italian:

Balenottera griglia della Califronia

Common Names in Portuguese:

Baleia cinzenta do Pacifico

Common Names in Spanish:

Ballena gris, Ballena gris de California

Description

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Habitat

Typically found in water with a depth of 0 to -100 meters (0 to -328 feet).[1]

Taxonomy

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Domain: Eukaryota () - Whittaker & Margulis,1978 - eukaryotes
- Kingdom: Animalia () - C. Linnaeus, 1758 - animals
  - Subkingdom: Bilateria () - (Hatschek, 1888) Cavalier-Smith, 1983
    - Branch: Deuterostomia () - Grobben, 1908
      - Infrakingdom: Chordonia () - (Haeckel, 1874) Cavalier-Smith, 1998
        Phylum: Chordata () - Bateson, 1885 - Chordates
        Subphylum: Vertebrata () - Cuvier, 1812 - Vertebrates
        Infraphylum: Gnathostomata () - auct. - Jawed Vertebrates
        Superclass: Tetrapoda () - Goodrich, 1930
        Class: Mammalia () - C. Linnaeus, 1758
        Subclass: Theriiformes () - (Rowe, 1988) M.C. McKenna & S.K. Bell, 1997
        Infraclass: Holotheria () - (Wible et al., 1995) M.C. McKenna & S.K. Bell, 1997
        Superlegion: Trechnotheria () - McKenna, 1975
        Legion: Cladotheria () - McKenna, 1975
        Sublegion: Zatheria () - McKenna, 1975
        Infralegion: Tribosphenida () - (McKenna, 1975) M.C. McKenna & S.K. Bell, 1997
        Supercohort: Theria () - (Parker & Haswell, 1897) M.C. McKenna & S.K. Bell, 1997
        Cohort: Placentalia () - (Owen, 1837) M.C. McKenna & S.K. Bell, 1997
        Magnorder: Epitheria () - (Mckenna, 1975) M.c. Mckenna & S.k. Bell, 1997
        Superorder: Preptotheria () - (McKenna, 1975) McKenna, in Stucky & McKenna, in Benton, ed., 1993
        Grandorder: Ungulata () - (C. Linnaeus, 1766) McKenna, 1975
        Mirorder: Eparctocyona () - McKenna, 1975
        Order: Cetartiodactyla () - C. Linnaeus, 1758
        Suborder: Cetacea () - (Brisson, 1762) M.C. McKenna & S.K. Bell, 1997
        Infraorder: Autoceta () - Haeckel, 1866
        Parvorder: Mysticeti () - (Cope, 1891) M.c. Mckenna & S.k. Bell, 1997
        Family: Balaenopteridae () - Gray, 1864
        Subfamily: Eschrichtiinae ()
        Genus: Eschrichtius () - (Gray, 1864) Gray, 1865
        Specific name: robustus
        Scientific name: - Eschrichtius robustus

Similar Species

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Members of the genus Eschrichtius

ZipcodeZoo has pages for 2 species and subspecies in this genus:

E. gibbosus (California Gray Whale) · (California Gray Whale)

More Info

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Search using Scientific Name and Vernacular Names: All the Web | AltaVista Canada | AltaVista | Excite | Google | HotBot | Lycos
Search using Specialized Databases: GenBank | Medline | Scirus | CISTI/CAL | Agricola Periodicals | Agricola Books

Notes

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Data Sources

Accessed through GBIF Data Portal November 17, 2007:

Field Museum, Mammal specimens
Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University, Bay of Fundy Species List
Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University, SEAMAP - marine mammals, birds and turtles
Michigan State University Museum, Vertebrate specimens
Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, Terrestrial vertebrate specimens
UNIBIO, IBUNAM, CNMA/Coleccion Nacional de Mamiferos
University of Alaska Museum of the North, University of Alaska Museum Mammal Collection
University of Alaska Museum of the North, University of Alaska Museum of the North Mammal Observation Catalog

Identifiers

Biodiversity Heritage Library NamebankID: 105939
Catalogue of Life Accepted Name Code: ITS-180521
Global Biodiversity Information Facility Taxonkey: 13741839
Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) Taxonomic Serial Number (TSN): 180521
IUCN ID: 208374
Natural Heritage Network Species Identifier: AMAGG01013
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Species Identifier: A02P
Zipcode Zoo Species Identifier: 4914

Footnotes

Mean = 28.820 meters (94.554 feet), Standard Deviation = 45.710 based on 128,492 observations. Ocean depth information for each observation from British Oceanographic Data Centre. [back]