Minke Whale

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Minke Whale
A surfacing Minke Whale, Skjálfandi, Iceland
A surfacing Minke Whale, Skjálfandi, Iceland

Size comparison against an average human

Size comparison against an average human
Conservation status
See text
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Subclass: Eutheria
Order: Cetacea
Suborder: Mysticeti
Family: Balaenopteridae
Genus: Balaenoptera
Species: B. acutorostrata
B. bonaerensis

The Minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) is a baleen whale found almost worldwide. It is the smallest rorqual whale (the large baleen whales). It is the only baleen whale that is still hunted commercially. The Minke whale is a relatively fast swimmer.