Southern right whale
Eubalaena australis
Little is known about the whales that pass by Tristan so an underwater acoustics project is used to hear these whales and understand what they are doing in our waters.
The Southern Right Whale is the sometimes seen from the shores of Tristan due to its dives being shallow and short which makes them easier to spot offshore. It is thought that the waters off Tristan are a right whale nursery area as most of the whales hunted in the “Tristan grounds” during the 1800’s were mothers with calves. It’s known for being very social with other whales and is very inquisitive approaching boats and vessels to observe them. Compared to other whales the head is considerably large encircling over a quarter of their body, its easily identified by its lack of dorsal fin and the amount of callouses and callosities (hardened skin) on their head and upper body.
IUCN Status – Least concern
Length – Up to 18m
Weight – Up to 60 tons
Reproduction – Every 3-4 years
Sightings around Tristan islands – sometimes seen from the shores of Tristan
Marine life on Tristan
The waters surrounding the Tristan islands are home to a diverse range of fish and invertebrates, including the commercially valuable crayfish.