habitat_narrative
Marine
During the winter months, Antarctic Minke Whales in the Southern Ocean feed predominantly on krill, mostly Euphausia superba (Antarctic Krill), and to a lesser extent E. crystallorophias (Ice Krill, which dominates in the Ross Sea), E. frigida and Thysanoessa macrura (Tamura and Konishsi 2006). Occasionally, copepods are also consumed (Skinner and Chimimba 2005). Whether Antarctic Minke Whales continue to feed during their migrations out of their Antarctic feeding grounds, is largely unknown. Individuals taken off the Durban coast have been reported to have fed on Euphausiids, however the stomach contents were greatly reduced compared to those recorded from Antarctica (Best 1982).Aside from the Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus), no other southern rorqual species is expected to penetrate as deeply into the pack ice, and this species has been observed extending its head vertically to breathe through cracks in the ice (Skinner and Chimimba 2005). They are fast swimmers, documented swimming alongside ships traveling 13â16 knots (24â30 km / hour) (Watson 1981).
Seasonal migrations take place from tropical and subtropical waters in winter to feeding areas in the high latitudes of the Southern Ocean in summer. Breeding is known to occur in warmer waters, and although information regarding the extent of their breeding sites is lacking, Kasamatsu et al. (1995) documented two core breeding areas in the eastern and western South Pacific, and two additional breeding sites in the eastern and western Indian Ocean. In contrast to coastal species, such as Right Whales (Eubalaena glacialis), Humpback Whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) and Gray Whales (Eschrichtius robustus), the breeding populations of Antarctic Minke Whales appear to be relatively widely dispersed in deep waters (Kasamatsu et al. 1995). They appear to move directly southwards from their breeding areas to feeding sites in the Southern Ocean (Kasamatsu et al. 1995).
Generally, males reach sexual maturity at about 7.5 m, while females only at 8.1 m (Skinner and Chimimba 2005). As the only baleen whale known to experience post-partum oestrus, Antarctic Minke Whales have a much shorter calving interval, averaged at 14 months (Best 1982). Average calf length at birth is between 2.7 and 2.9 m (Best 1985).
