|
| Distribution |
Found off NC from VA to SC. There are stranding records for seven of the eight coastal counties in the state.
Found in oceans around the world, including the Atlantic from Arctic waters to the tropics. |
| Abundance |
Uncommon -- fairly common for a large whale -- off the coast, usually well out of sight of land; very seldom seen from shore. Of the large whales in our waters, this is the most frequently seen one from boats/ships, particularly so in the warmer months. The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History mammal collections (2021) lists only six stranding records for NC. |
| Seasonal Occurrence |
Through 1995, there were 16 strandings in NC (Webster et al., 1995), spanning the entire year, with only June, October, and December lacking records. The NMNH database contains stranding records scattered all year. More offshore observations are for the warmer months, though this could be in relation to the number of trips at that time of year. Not obviously migratory like so many other large species. |
| Habitat |
Mainly in deeper waters, from the Continental Slope to farther at sea. |
| Behavior |
|
| Comments |
This is most common of the "great whales" around the world, despite being listed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Serice as an Endangered species. Numbers have been estimated at around 1.5 million individuals. This species is normally easily identified by its huge blocky head and by the blow, which angles to the left. |
| Origin |
Native |
| NC List |
Official |
 State Rank |
S3M |
| State Status |
|
| Global Rank |
G3G4 |
| Federal Status |
E |
| subspecies |
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| other_comName |
|
| synonym |
Physeter catodon |
