Sealife guideThe dwarf minke whaleBalaenoptera acutorostrata

Last updated on 08/26/2024 at 05:46 PM

The dwarf minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) © Uko Gorter

Taxonomy

Common name: Dwarf minke whale
French name: Baleine de minke naine, rorqual mineur, rorqual à rostre, rorqual à museau pointu, petit rorqual, balenoptere a bec aigu, baleine d'été
Scientific name: Balaenoptera acutorostrata (Lacépède, 1804)
Family name: Balaenopteridae
Order name: Cetacea
Class name: Sea mammals [Mammalia]

Did you know ?

The dwarf minke whale is listed as many other marine species within The IUCN Red List of threatened species. The dwarf minke whale appears in the IUCN Red List since 2018 within the category Least Concern !

The dwarf minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) © Jemma Craig | Dreamstime.com

Within the same genus

Fin whale
(Balaenoptera physalus)

Within the same family

Humpback whale
(Megaptera novaeangliae)

Discover also

Atlantic white-sided dolphin
(Leucopleurus acutus)

Australian sea lion
(Neophoca cinerea)

Beluga
(Delphinapterus leucas)

Commerson's dolphin
(Cephalorhynchus commersonii)

Short-finned pilot whale
(Globicephala macrorhynchus)

Southern right whale
(Eubalaena australis)

Spinner dolphin
(Stenella longirostris)

Striped dolphin
(Stenella coeruleoalba)

Our latestUpdates

Thursday, May 7th 2026

Faroe islands

Discover the Faroe islands, a remote archipelago between Iceland and Norway known for its dramatic cliffs, colorful villages, and untouched Nordic landscapes. Find travel tips, itineraries, hiking guides, local culture, and inspiration to explore this unique destination in the North Atlantic.

Wednesday, May 6th 2026

The short-finned pilot whale

Discover the tropical pilot whale (Globicephala macrorhynchus), a highly social large cetacean from tropical and subtropical waters, specialized in deep dives in search of squid.

Thursday, April 23rd 2026

Where to see groupers in the Mediterranean ?

Discover where to see groupers in the Mediterranean: the best diving spots and protected marine areas to observe this iconic fish in its natural habitat.

Photo of the Day

Raie torpille panthère
(Torpedo panthera)