Common name: Fin Whale.

Scientific name: Balaenoptera physalus (Linnaeus, 1758)

Family: Balaenopteridae

Distribution and Habitat: Its presence in the waters of the Madeira archipelago is regular. It generally occurs in deep oceanic waters and is rarely seen in coastal zones.

Description: This mammal has a very elongated body and a dorsal fin. The colouration of the body is bluish grey, dark in the dorsal region and flippers and light in the ventral region. The inferior left jaw is dark and the right one is white. When it surfaces it is not possible to see the blowhole and the dorsal fin simultaneously. When it dives it does not show the tail fluke, but it curves its tail peduncle. Its blow is vertical and very high, reaching a height of 5 m. An adult weighs approx. 80.000 Kg and reaches a maximum length of 20 m.

Conservation statute and Threats: There is not enough information in the region on this world wide endangered species.

Observations: It is frequently seen during the spring and summer months.