North Atlantic Right Whale

Eubalaena glacialis

The North Atlantic right whale, Eubalaena glacialis, is a large baleen whale of the western North Atlantic, recognized by its black body, broad back without a dorsal fin, arched jaw, and pale callosities on the head. It feeds by slowly skimming dense patches of copepods and other tiny prey through long baleen plates. The name comes from the old whaling term for a whale that was considered the right one to hunt, a history that still shadows the species because the surviving population is small and closely watched.

Human work around North Atlantic right whales is conservation management, not ownership. Field teams identify individuals from callosity patterns, monitor calving areas off the southeastern United States, and use aerial surveys, acoustic listening, and photo records to track movement. Vessel strikes and fishing gear entanglement remain central risks, so stewardship often involves speed rules, gear changes, disentanglement response, necropsy work, and coordination among fisheries, ports, researchers, and wildlife agencies.