Southern Right Whale Brindle Calf | Eubalaena australis

This is a southern right whale (Eubalaena australis) brindle calf surfacing to breathe, facing away from the camera. Infesting the area around the calf’s blowholes are whale lice, likely Cyamus ovalis. About 4% of southern right whale calves are born with white and black pigmentation, as shown here. These calves are always male. As they mature, such calves darken but never turn completely dark like other southern rights. About 6% of southern right whales have a partial brindle pattern. All such whales are female. Photographed with the permission of the Department of Environmental Affairs, South Africa.

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Copyright: Copyright Tony Wu. All rights reserved. No duplication, reproduction or usage without prior written permission.
Image Size: 5472x3648 / 57.3MB; https://www.photoshelter.com/support/license#rm; https://www.tony-wu.com/contact-tony-wu; Whale Southern Right Whale Animalia Chordata Mammalia Eutheria Cetacea Cetartiodactyla Mysticeti Balaenidae Eubalaena australis Marine Mammal Baleen Whale Filter Feeder Mysticete CITES Appendix 1 Least Concern: IUCN Red List Calf Indian Ocean South Africa
Contained in galleries: Southern Right Whales, Marine Life | South Africa

This is a southern right whale (Eubalaena australis) brindle calf surfacing to breathe, facing away from the camera. Infesting the area around the calf’s blowholes are whale lice, likely Cyamus ovalis. About 4% of southern right whale calves are born with white and black pigmentation, as shown here. These calves are always male. As they mature, such calves darken but never turn completely dark like other southern rights. About 6% of southern right whales have a partial brindle pattern. All such whales are female. Photographed with the permission of the Department of Environmental Affairs, South Africa.