File:Tail flukes of southern right whale - DPLA - 94dcdf2b0424a040ade580d30dd0dac7.jpg

35 mm slide; color. Scientific Classification: Kingdom: Animalia; Phylum: Chordata; Class: Mammalia; Order: Cetacea; Family: Balaenidae; Genus: Eubalaena; Genus species: Eubalaena australis. Animal characteristics: Head-Body Length: 5-18 m; Weight: 50-56 metric tons; Identification: The southern right whale has black skin with white patches on its chin and belly. The head and jaw are usually covered with large skin callosities of parasites (barnacles, worms, and whale lice); Habitat: Temperate oceans; Diet: Carnivore: copepods, krill; Reproduction: After a gestation period of 10-11 months, calves are born in late spring or early summer. Weaning occurs at one year of age; Social Structure: Right whales travel in pods of 2-9 animals; Behavior: While traveling, right whales breech relatively often. They feed by using the baleen plates hanging from the roof of their mouths. When a whale opens its mouth, water with tiny organisms flows in. As the whale closes its mouth, the water is strained through the baleen plates, collecting food particles on their many bristles; Status: Endangered; Interesting Facts: The name 'right whale' comes from the fact that hunters saw it as the right whale to hunt: it swims slowly, floats when killed for easy collection, and has a lot of oil and baleen.