How many types of minke whale are there?

The minke whale is treated as a species complex that includes two main forms: the northern (common) minke whale and the southern (Antarctic) minke whale.

Why is it called the minke whale?

The English name comes from the Norwegian minkehval and may refer to a Norwegian whaler named Meincke who once mistook a northern minke whale for a blue whale.

Is the minke whale a baleen or toothed whale?

The minke whale is a baleen whale.

Are minkes sometimes called lesser rorquals?

Yes, minke whales are also known as lesser rorquals.

When were minkes first described scientifically?

A specimen was described by Otto Fabricius in 1780, and a juvenile was described by Bernard Germain de Lacépède in 1804.

Was the minke ever confused with other whale species?

Historically, a northern minke whale was mistaken for a blue whale by a Norwegian whaler, which influenced the common name.

Does this guide cover both northern and southern minkes?

Yes; the term 'minke whale' in this guide refers to the species complex that includes northern and southern forms.

Is the minke whale the same as the northern bottlenose whale?

No. An early naming assignment linked a specimen to Balaena rostrata, a name previously given to the northern bottlenose whale, but minke whales are a distinct baleen-whale complex.

Where to See Minke Whale While Diving

The minke whale is a species complex of baleen whale, commonly called the lesser rorqual. It comprises two recognized species or forms: the northern (common) minke whale and the southern (Antarctic) minke whale. The animals were first described in the scientific literature in the late 18th and early 19th centuries; Otto Fabricius described a specimen in 1780 and Bernard Germain de Lacépède described a juvenile in 1804. The common English name derives from the Norwegian minkehval and may reference a Norwegian whaler, Meincke, who once mistook a northern minke whale for a blue whale.

The strongest linked planning options currently surface around destinations such as St Abbs and Eyemouth, Townsville, Wellington and countries such as Canada, Japan, New Zealand for divers building trips around minke whales.