Southern Right Whale

The Southern right whale (Eubalaena australis) has been in the news following reports of unusually high calf deaths along Argentina’s coast, possibly linked to bacterial infections.

• Distribution: Southern Hemisphere, mainly between 20°S and 65°S.
• Physical Features: Stocky black body, sometimes with white patches on the belly and chin, a large head with callosities, broad paddle-shaped flippers and no dorsal fin.
• Callosities: Raised patches of hardened skin on the head that help identify individual whales.
• Migration: Moves towards high-latitude feeding grounds in summer and lower-latitude breeding grounds in winter.
• Major Populations: South America, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.
• IUCN Status: Least Concern (LC), as specified in the provided study material.

MCQ – English

Q. Consider the following statements about the Southern right whale:

1. It lacks a dorsal fin.
2. It is found primarily in the Northern Hemisphere.
3. Callosities are hardened skin patches on its head.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 3 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (b)