Whale Anatomy Photos

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Fin whale underwater.  The fin whale is the second longest and sixth most massive animal ever, reaching lengths of 88 feet, Balaenoptera physalus, La Jolla, California
Fin whale underwater. The fin whale is the second longest and sixth most massive animal ever, reaching lengths of 88 feet.
Species: Fin whale, Balaenoptera physalus
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 27116  
Blue whale fluking up (raising its tail) before a dive to forage for krill,  Baja California (Mexico), Balaenoptera musculus
Blue whale fluking up (raising its tail) before a dive to forage for krill, Baja California (Mexico).
Species: Blue whale, Balaenoptera musculus
Image ID: 03332  
A humpback whale raises it fluke out of the water, the coast of Del Mar and La Jolla is visible in the distance, Megaptera novaeangliae
A humpback whale raises it fluke out of the water, the coast of Del Mar and La Jolla is visible in the distance.
Species: Humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae
Location: Del Mar, California
Image ID: 27142  
A neonate gray whale calf, born just hours before, still exhbiting embryonic folds in the skin along its side.  This baby gray whale was born in the cold waters of Big Sur, far to the north of the Mexican lagoons of Baja California where most gray whale births take place, Eschrichtius robustus, Monterey
A neonate gray whale calf, born just hours before, still exhbiting embryonic folds in the skin along its side. This baby gray whale was born in the cold waters of Big Sur, far to the north of the Mexican lagoons of Baja California where most gray whale births take place.
Species: Gray whale, Eschrichtius robustus
Location: Monterey, California
Image ID: 01135  
Gray whales, two males both with extended penis during courtship socialization, Laguna San Ignacio, Eschrichtius robustus, San Ignacio Lagoon
Gray whales, two males both with extended penis during courtship socialization, Laguna San Ignacio.
Species: Gray whale, Eschrichtius robustus
Location: San Ignacio Lagoon, Baja California, Mexico
Image ID: 06431  
Gray whale baleen, Eschrichtius robustus
Gray whale baleen.
Species: Gray whale, Eschrichtius robustus
Image ID: 03388  
Blue whale fluke, powerful tail that propels the huge whale through the open ocean, Balaenoptera musculus
Blue whale fluke, powerful tail that propels the huge whale through the open ocean.
Species: Blue whale, Balaenoptera musculus
Image ID: 01910  
Fin whale underwater.  The fin whale is the second longest and sixth most massive animal ever, reaching lengths of 88 feet, Balaenoptera physalus, La Jolla, California
Fin whale underwater. The fin whale is the second longest and sixth most massive animal ever, reaching lengths of 88 feet.
Species: Fin whale, Balaenoptera physalus
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 27113  
Fin whale dorsal fin.  The fin whale is named for its tall, falcate dorsal fin.  Mariners often refer to them as finback whales.  Coronado Islands, Mexico (northern Baja California, near San Diego), Balaenoptera physalus, Coronado Islands (Islas Coronado)
Fin whale dorsal fin. The fin whale is named for its tall, falcate dorsal fin. Mariners often refer to them as finback whales. Coronado Islands, Mexico (northern Baja California, near San Diego).
Species: Fin whale, Balaenoptera physalus
Location: Coronado Islands (Islas Coronado), Baja California, Mexico
Image ID: 12769  
A humpback whale raises it fluke out of the water, the coast of Del Mar and La Jolla is visible in the distance, Megaptera novaeangliae
A humpback whale raises it fluke out of the water, the coast of Del Mar and La Jolla is visible in the distance.
Species: Humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae
Location: Del Mar, California
Image ID: 27137  
A humpback whale raises it fluke out of the water, the coast of Del Mar and La Jolla is visible in the distance, Megaptera novaeangliae
A humpback whale raises it fluke out of the water, the coast of Del Mar and La Jolla is visible in the distance.
Species: Humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae
Location: Del Mar, California
Image ID: 27141  
Gray whale, Eschrichtius robustus, Big Sur, California
Gray whale.
Species: Gray whale, Eschrichtius robustus
Location: Big Sur, California
Image ID: 01182  
Whale shark, Rhincodon typus, Darwin Island
Whale shark.
Species: Whale shark, Rhincodon typus
Location: Darwin Island, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
Image ID: 01503  
Whale shark, Rhincodon typus, Darwin Island
Whale shark.
Species: Whale shark, Rhincodon typus
Location: Darwin Island, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
Image ID: 01513  
Blue whale fluke, powerful tail that propels the huge whale through the open ocean, Balaenoptera musculus
Blue whale fluke, powerful tail that propels the huge whale through the open ocean.
Species: Blue whale, Balaenoptera musculus
Image ID: 01911  
Rissos dolphin surfacing with eye showing. Note distinguishing and highly variable skin and dorsal fin patterns, characteristic of this species. White scarring, likely caused by other Risso dolphins teeth, accumulates during the dolphins life so that adult Rissos dolphins are almost entirely white.  San Diego, Grampus griseus
Rissos dolphin surfacing with eye showing. Note distinguishing and highly variable skin and dorsal fin patterns, characteristic of this species. White scarring, likely caused by other Risso dolphins teeth, accumulates during the dolphins life so that adult Rissos dolphins are almost entirely white. San Diego.
Species: Risso's dolphin, Grampus griseus
Location: San Diego, California
Image ID: 02314  
An enormous blue whale raises its fluke (tail) high out of the water before diving.  Open ocean offshore of San Diego, Balaenoptera musculus
An enormous blue whale raises its fluke (tail) high out of the water before diving. Open ocean offshore of San Diego.
Species: Blue whale, Balaenoptera musculus
Location: San Diego, California
Image ID: 07554  
Rissos dolphin, breaching. Note distinguishing and highly variable skin and dorsal fin patterns, characteristic of this species. White scarring, likely caused by other Risso dolphins teeth, accumulates during the dolphins life so that adult Rissos dolphins are almost entirely white. San Diego, Grampus griseus
Rissos dolphin, breaching. Note distinguishing and highly variable skin and dorsal fin patterns, characteristic of this species. White scarring, likely caused by other Risso dolphins teeth, accumulates during the dolphins life so that adult Rissos dolphins are almost entirely white. San Diego.
Species: Risso's dolphin, Grampus griseus
Location: San Diego, California
Image ID: 00983  
Gray whale, neonate calf with embryonic folds visible, Eschrichtius robustus, Monterey, California
Gray whale, neonate calf with embryonic folds visible.
Species: Gray whale, Eschrichtius robustus
Location: Monterey, California
Image ID: 01129  
Gray whale, Eschrichtius robustus, Monterey, California
Gray whale.
Species: Gray whale, Eschrichtius robustus
Location: Monterey, California
Image ID: 01190  
Blue whale, caudal stem, fluke with median notch, Balaenoptera musculus
Blue whale, caudal stem, fluke with median notch.
Species: Blue whale, Balaenoptera musculus
Image ID: 02220  
Blue whale, fluke, tail with median notch, lifting tail before diving in the open ocean, Balaenoptera musculus
Blue whale, fluke, tail with median notch, lifting tail before diving in the open ocean.
Species: Blue whale, Balaenoptera musculus
Image ID: 02221  
Blue whale, fluke up before dive, Balaenoptera musculus
Blue whale, fluke up before dive.
Species: Blue whale, Balaenoptera musculus
Image ID: 02310  
Blue whale fluking up, raising its tail, before a dive in the open ocean, Balaenoptera musculus
Blue whale fluking up, raising its tail, before a dive in the open ocean.
Species: Blue whale, Balaenoptera musculus
Image ID: 03336  
Courting gray whales, Laguna San Ignacio, Eschrichtius robustus, San Ignacio Lagoon
Courting gray whales, Laguna San Ignacio.
Species: Gray whale, Eschrichtius robustus
Location: San Ignacio Lagoon, Baja California, Mexico
Image ID: 03393  
Gray whale, Laguna San Ignacio, Eschrichtius robustus, San Ignacio Lagoon
Gray whale, Laguna San Ignacio.
Species: Gray whale, Eschrichtius robustus
Location: San Ignacio Lagoon, Baja California, Mexico
Image ID: 03395  
Courting gray whales, Laguna San Ignacio, Eschrichtius robustus, San Ignacio Lagoon
Courting gray whales, Laguna San Ignacio.
Species: Gray whale, Eschrichtius robustus
Location: San Ignacio Lagoon, Baja California, Mexico
Image ID: 03396  
An enormous blue whale raises its fluke (tail) high out of the water before diving.  Open ocean offshore of San Diego, Balaenoptera musculus
An enormous blue whale raises its fluke (tail) high out of the water before diving. Open ocean offshore of San Diego.
Species: Blue whale, Balaenoptera musculus
Location: San Diego, California
Image ID: 07549  
An enormous blue whale raises its fluke (tail) high out of the water before diving.  Open ocean offshore of San Diego, Balaenoptera musculus
An enormous blue whale raises its fluke (tail) high out of the water before diving. Open ocean offshore of San Diego.
Species: Blue whale, Balaenoptera musculus
Location: San Diego, California
Image ID: 07552  
An enormous blue whale raises its fluke (tail) high out of the water before diving.  Open ocean offshore of San Diego, Balaenoptera musculus
An enormous blue whale raises its fluke (tail) high out of the water before diving. Open ocean offshore of San Diego.
Species: Blue whale, Balaenoptera musculus
Location: San Diego, California
Image ID: 07555  
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All photographs copyright © Phillip Colla / Oceanlight.com, all rights reserved worldwide.