Representatives of 23 species of cetaceans can be observed off the coast of Iceland, of which at least 12 appear regularly in the area, while the remaining 11 species are observed occasionally.
The most frequent regulars include 5 species of baleen whales (minke, blue, humpback, fin and sei whales) and 7 species of toothed whales (northern bottlenose whales, sperm whales, harbor porpoises, long-finned pilot whales, orcas, white-beaked dolphins and Atlantic white-sided dolphins). It is these species that we present more closely in this article.
Blue whale
The blue whale (Latin: Balaenoptera musculus, Icelandic: Steypireyður) is a giant even among its whale relatives. It can reach up to 30 meters (100 ft) in length and weigh more than 130 metric tons (over 140 US tons). It can swim at speeds of up to 50 km/h (30 mph).
Blue whales feed mainly on krill, occasionally also on crustaceans and fish. On a cruise, they are easiest to spot thanks to their spout, up to 9 meters (30 ft) tall. Another feature by which you can recognize a blue whale is its small dorsal fin, set far back on the body. Admittedly, unless you get really close on a cruise, telling the species apart is very difficult, and in practice you have to rely mainly on the size of the animal you see.
Comparison of the features and sizes of 3 rorqual species
Blue whales are most often seen in waters north of Iceland, especially on cruises from Husavik and Akureyri. However, they are also sometimes seen in the west and south – on cruises from Reykjavik or Heimaey.
Their considerable size and large amount of meat and fat caused blue whales to often fall prey to whalers, so their population declined sharply. They were only protected in the 1960s, and since then their numbers have slowly increased and stabilized. Nevertheless, they are classified as an endangered species, so they are under active protection. Their natural enemy is the orca, but it only threatens young, old and weakened individuals.
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Fin whale
The fin whale (Latin: Balaenoptera physalus, Icelandic: Langreyður) is the second largest cetacean after the blue whale. It reaches lengths of up to 27 meters (89 ft) and weighs up to 100 metric tons (110 US tons).
The fin whale’s distinctive features are its small, pointed dorsal fin and asymmetrical coloration – the lower jaw is dark gray, almost black, on the left side, and lighter, almost white, on the right. It is easy to spot, as its spout reaches 5–9 meters (16–30 ft) in height.
According to the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature), it is classified as a species at risk of extinction, but has nevertheless been continuously caught off the coast of Iceland until recently. It is not a species often seen in these waters, but can be found during the summer months in both northern and southern Icelandic waters (Reeves et al., 1998).
Minke whale
Minke whales (Latin: Balaenoptera acutorostrata, Icelandic: Hrefna) are relatively small cetaceans. They reach a length of up to 10 meters (33 ft) and a body weight of up to 8 metric tons (9 US tons). They can swim at about 35 km/h (22 mph). It is a species often seen on cruises, as it is curious, dives for short periods of time, and spends most of the day at the surface. It is most easily recognized by its small and curved dorsal fin and by the relatively small spout, up to 2 meters (7 ft) high. White bands on the pectoral fins are characteristic of this species.
There are 3 subpopulations of this species worldwide: one in the North Pacific, one in the Southern Hemisphere and one in the North Atlantic, visiting the waters around Iceland periodically. They usually move alone or in small groups of 2–3 animals. They can be observed in both northern and southern Icelandic waters.
They are among the most abundant whales in the oceans, but their population in Icelandic waters is declining year by year. This is due to climate change and their capture for human consumption. Their only natural enemy is the orca, which, however, mainly preys on young and weakened individuals.
Humpback whale
Humpback whales (Latin: Megaptera novaeangliae, Icelandic: Hnúfubakur) reach up to 17 meters (56 ft) in length and can weigh up to 30 metric tons (33 US tons). They can swim at speeds of up to 27 km/h (17 mph) and are known for their long migrations and spectacular acrobatics.
They are most easily recognized by their very long pectoral fins, which can reach a length of up to 1/3 the length of their entire body. These fins have special bumps (tubercles) that play a role in a specialized way of feeding. Group hunting by humpback whales is often observed, during which the pectoral fins make feeding more efficient. Working together, the whales encircle a school of fish or zooplankton, disorienting and stunning it by slapping their fins and leaping out of the water. They also create a curtain of air bubbles, thus driving their victims into a deadly trap. Then they charge at the shoal from below, taking in huge amounts of food and filtering it through their baleen plates. Up to a dozen individuals can take part in such a highly effective hunt.
Humpback whales are also distinguished by characteristic nodules on the body, a small dorsal fin and an S-shaped tail fluke. The coloring of the fluke is unique to each individual – a kind of whale fingerprint that makes it possible to tell individuals apart.
Humpbacks are extremely curious animals and can often be seen on whale-watching trips. Sometimes they emerge near the boat and follow it for a long time, which provides a great opportunity for observation.
Currently, their population is fairly stable, but this was not always the case. In the past, humpback whales were the main target of whalers from many parts of the world. Their penchant for shallow waters and seasonal return to the same areas contributed to this, making them an easy target. During the heyday of whaling, up to 95% of the world’s humpback population died. A ban on hunting these animals was not introduced until 1966, when the population was in a deplorable state. Fortunately, it wasn’t too late, and today the species is no longer at risk of extinction, although it is still extremely important to monitor the population (Mitchell and Reeves, 1983).
Sei whale
Sei whales (Latin: Balaenoptera borealis, Icelandic: Sandreyður) rank a respectable third in size, completing the podium of the world’s largest cetaceans, behind the blue whale and fin whale. They reach lengths of up to 20 meters (66 ft) and can weigh up to 30 metric tons (33 US tons). They are among the fastest cetaceans, reaching speeds of up to 50 km/h (30 mph) (Horwood, 2009).
When cruising in Icelandic waters, you don’t see them very often as they tend to prefer open water and rarely approach boats. They can also be easily mistaken for fin whales. The main distinguishing feature between the two species is the fin whale’s asymmetrical coloration.
Like other cetaceans, the sei whale population was massively depleted by whaling. Their meat was highly prized, and because of their speed, they were considered difficult animals to hunt. Next to fin whales, they were the most frequently caught cetaceans in Iceland in the 1960s and 1970s. Sei whales were only protected in the 1970s. Their population has still not recovered, so they are considered an endangered species and in need of active species protection.
Orca
The orca (Latin: Orcinus orca, Icelandic: Háhyrningur) is certainly the most predatory species of all the cetaceans described here. Orcas are also the largest members of the Delphinidae (oceanic dolphin) family. They reach body lengths of up to 10 meters (33 ft) and weights of up to 9 metric tons (10 US tons). They can reach a considerable speed (60 km/h / 37 mph), which makes them very efficient hunters. Their diet includes fish, other dolphins, pinnipeds (including seals), as well as smaller and older cetaceans. They can be recognized by their long, pointed dorsal fin (it can be more than 1.5 meters / 5 ft tall!), distinctive coloration, and a large spout reaching a height of 4 meters (13 ft).
Orcas are found in all oceans, but the highest abundance of these animals is observed in the North Atlantic (mainly off the coasts of Iceland and the Faroe Islands), in the North Pacific (mainly off Alaska) and off the coast of Antarctica.
The conservation status of orcas has not been clearly established, due to insufficient information on the state of their populations. Individual populations are considered endangered, due to overfishing, pollution and habitat loss.
Sperm whale
Sperm whales (Latin: Physeter macrocephalus, Icelandic: Búrhvalur) are the largest toothed whales. They reach lengths of up to 20 meters (66 ft) and can weigh 80 metric tons (88 US tons).
Sperm whales are social animals, forming groups of about 12 individuals. They usually gather to protect young and sick members of the herd. They prefer open ocean waters. During the summer months, they can be observed off the coast of Iceland, but this requires luck and patience. This is because sperm whales hunt by diving as deep as 1,500 meters (4,900 ft), holding their breath for up to an hour. They feed mainly on squid and large fish.
You can recognize sperm whales primarily by their characteristic spout, blown forward at an angle to a height of about 2 meters (7 ft) through a single blowhole on the left side of the body. Other distinguishing features of sperm whales are a large head, specific ribbing on the back and a small dorsal fin.
In the chambers between the bones of the sperm whale’s skull is a special oily mass called spermaceti. Adults can hold up to 2,000 liters (530 gallons) of this substance. It is involved in the production of peculiar “clicking” sounds for communication and echolocation, and also helps regulate buoyancy (Huggenberger et al., 2016). It was an extremely valuable resource, which is why sperm whales were hunted en masse and their population was severely reduced. Spermaceti was used on a huge scale as a lubricant, as a raw material for candles and lamps, and in the food and pharmaceutical industries. Sperm whales were also hunted for a peculiar secretion of their digestive tract – ambergris, which was used in making perfumes.
According to the Red List of Threatened Species, the sperm whale is at risk of extinction. The species is also on the CITES list, which means threatened with extinction. Hunting this species is prohibited by the International Whaling Commission (88 member states).
Sperm whales are a very important link in food chains. Among other things, they are the main predator of giant squid. They eat huge quantities of these squid, thus having an impact on limiting their numbers. They also do the natural “recycling” involved in supplying iron to large, iron-poor areas of the ocean. The iron processed in this way is readily available to phytoplankton. The whole process works like this: by eating fish and squid that feed on fish, which in turn feed on iron-rich zooplankton, the sperm whale contributes to the circulation of this element. Biochemical processes occurring during digestion change iron from an unabsorbable to a plant-available form. A similar system has been observed in the carbon cycle. The estimated contribution of the sperm whale to the conversion of carbon to its assimilable form allows for increased primary production and the fixation of an additional 200,000 metric tons of carbon per year.
Harbor porpoise
The harbor porpoise (Latin: Phocoena phocoena, Icelandic: Hnísa), is a very common species in Icelandic waters. It is most often found during the summer months in bays and near shorelines. It feeds mainly on fish, which it sometimes hunts in larger groups.
Despite its abundance, the harbor porpoise, one of the smallest cetaceans (it grows to about 2 meters / 7 ft and 70 kg / 150 lbs), is quite difficult to observe in the wild. It usually swims alone or in small groups of a few individuals. It rather rarely approaches boats and is hard to spot if the water is rough or visibility is poor.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature classifies this species as a species of least concern, meaning its global population is not threatened. However, the Baltic Sea subpopulation, for example, is considered critically endangered.
Long-finned pilot whale
Long-finned pilot whales (Latin: Globicephala melas, Icelandic: Grindhvalur) grow up to about 6 meters (20 ft) and can weigh just over 2 metric tons (2.2 US tons). Females, however, are lighter and smaller.
These whales are very often seen on cruises around Iceland, especially during the summer months. They form groups of 10-50 individuals, although gatherings of up to 1,000 individuals have been encountered. They have very strongly developed social bonds. In winter they tend to stay farther from the shores, while during summer and autumn they stay closer to the coast, which makes them easy to observe. Juveniles often jump out of the water, which makes quite an impression.
Due to its social behavior, the species is particularly vulnerable during hunting. In many countries, these animals are still traditionally hunted and have not been officially covered by conservation measures. They are hunted for food, despite warnings about the high levels of heavy metals and other toxic substances that accumulate in the bodies of pilot whales as the final links in the food chain.
Northern bottlenose whale
The northern bottlenose whale (Latin: Hyperoodon ampullatus, Icelandic: Andarnefja) belongs to the beaked whale family (Ziphiidae), one of the least understood groups of mammals.
Among other things, the bottlenose whale is one of the record holders in diving. It can descend to a depth of about 2,400 meters (7,900 ft), and its dives can last up to 2 hours. Bottlenose whales feed mainly on deep-sea squid and other cephalopods. They reach lengths of up to 10 meters (33 ft) and can weigh up to 7.5 metric tons (8 US tons). Because of their long dives, they can be difficult to observe, but they often surface near boats out of curiosity.
Bottlenose whales prefer deeper waters near the coast and are regulars off Icelandic shores. They can be recognized by their relatively small dorsal fin and characteristic convex, massive forehead, where the so-called melon is located. This is a fatty pad used for echolocation and communication. The melon is the feature on the basis of which the sex of a bottlenose whale can be told. Males have larger and more square foreheads, while females and younger individuals have smaller and more rounded foreheads.
White-beaked dolphin
White-beaked dolphins (Latin: Lagenorhynchus albirostris, Icelandic: Hnýðingur) are animals that grow up to 3 meters (10 ft) and can weigh up to 300 kilograms (660 lbs). Their body is rather massive and stocky, and the distinctive features by which they can be recognized are a short, brightly colored “nose” and a darker, curved dorsal fin (Van Bree, 1964).
The white-beaked dolphin is a species found only in the North Atlantic, so being in Iceland is a great opportunity to observe them in the wild. They can be found throughout the year. They give birth to young in the summer, so be careful and keep your distance when observing them in the wild. They are herd animals, and groups of up to 10 individuals can often be spotted. These dolphins often join orcas and other dolphins, as well as fin and humpback whales, when they hunt.
Atlantic white-sided dolphin
The Atlantic white-sided dolphin (Latin: Lagenorhynchus acutus, Icelandic: Leiftur) is very similar in appearance to the white-beaked dolphin, but slightly smaller. It grows to about 2.5 meters (8 ft) and reaches a body weight of up to 230 kg (510 lbs).
The main feature that allows it to be easily distinguished from the white-beaked dolphin is the characteristic yellowish patch on the rear part of its back.
The area of occurrence largely overlaps with the white-beaked dolphin, and there is a good chance of sighting this species on cruises around Iceland. It is seen more often on the southern coast. It can be found there all year round, but may move around in search of food.
Other species
Other species of cetaceans that we can occasionally see in the waters around Iceland are mainly some baleen whales (North Atlantic right whales, bowhead whales) and toothed whales (belugas, narwhals, beaked whales, common dolphins). With luck, these species can also be observed near the island on a typical “whale watching” cruise (Ingebrigtsen, 1929).
Bibliography
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