Skip to content
Sei Whale
Christin Khan, CC BY-SA 4.0, via iNaturalist

Dolphins & whales

Sei Whale

Balaenoptera borealis Lesson, 1828

EN Endangered

Names

EnglishSei Whale
DutchNoordse Vinvis
SpanishRorcual norteño
Chinese塞鲸
Scientific nameBalaenoptera borealis Lesson, 1828

About this species

The sei whale ( SAY; Balaenoptera borealis) is a baleen whale. It is one of ten rorqual species, and the third-largest member after the blue and fin whales. It can grow to 19.5 m (64 ft) in length and weigh as much as 28 t (28 long tons; 31 short tons). Two subspecies are recognized: B. b. borealis and B. b. schlegelii. The whale's ventral surface has sporadic markings ranging from light grey to white, and its body is usually dark steel grey in colour. It is among the fastest of all cetaceans, and can reach speeds of up to 50–55 km/h (31–34 mph) over short distances.

It inhabits most oceans and adjoining seas, and prefers deep offshore waters. It avoids polar and tropical waters and semi-enclosed bodies of water. The sei whale migrates annually from cool, subpolar waters in summer to temperate, subtropical waters in winter with a lifespan of 70 years. It is a filter feeder, with its diet consisting primarily of copepods, krill, and other zooplankton. It is typically solitary or can be found in groups numbering half a dozen.

Read more on Wikipedia · Text: Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Classification

KingdomAnimalia
PhylumChordata
ClassMammalia
OrderCetacea
FamilyBalaenopteridae
GenusBalaenoptera

In Suriname

2Records in Suriname
1964First record
2022Latest record

Where it has been recorded

  • Paramaribo1

Districts with at least one record that has coordinates. Shaded districts have records.

Sources & credits

Spotted a mistake or know another local name? Tell us.

Related species in Suriname