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)
(Balaenoptera physalus)
Within the same family

Humpback whale
(Megaptera novaeangliae)
(Megaptera novaeangliae)
Discover also

Amazon river dolphin
(Inia geoffrensis)
(Inia geoffrensis)

Antarctic fur seal
(Arctocephalus gazella)
(Arctocephalus gazella)

Gray whale
(Eschrichtius robustus)
(Eschrichtius robustus)

Harbor seal
(Phoca vitulina)
(Phoca vitulina)

Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin
(Sousa chinensis)
(Sousa chinensis)

Narwhal
(Monodon monoceros)
(Monodon monoceros)

Risso's dolphin
(Grampus griseus)
(Grampus griseus)

White headed dolphin
(Cephalorhynchus hectori)
(Cephalorhynchus hectori)
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

Posidonie
(Posidonia oceanica)
(Posidonia oceanica)
