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White Whale (Beluga)

Delphinapterus leucas

General Status Rank:

Secure

ELCODE:

AMAGD01010

Common Name:

White Whale (Beluga)

Scientific Name:

Delphinapterus leucas

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Taxonomy

Group:

Mammal (Marine Mammal)

Kingdom:

Animalia

Phylum:

Chordata

Class:

Mammalia

Order:

Artiodactyla (Cetacea)

Family:

Monodontidae

References:

General Biology

Female Age at Maturity

6 years

References:

Longevity

max 20 years (females) and 30 years (males)

References:

Economic/Human Considerations

hide is valuable; muktuq and meat is used for subsistence

References:

Habitat

arctic oceans year round, generally in shallow waters but may feed in deep water troughs (Pierre Richard (see H135), tagging data); they use the Mackenzie River estuary among other fresh or brackish water areas (

References:

Distribution

Ecozones

Arctic Ocean, Atlantic Ocean

References:

Distribution

Score:

G

Marine Distribution Description:

0.42

Number of Occurrences

at least 10 in Canada; one stock in NWT - Beaufort Sea (stocks are named for their summering area)

Score:

A

References:

Area of Occupancy

migratory (in northern oceans); stable

Score:

-

References:

Population

Population Size

40 - 60,000 worldwide; NWT: Beaufort Sea = 20 000+. NU: Baffin Bay (high Arctic) = 16-18 000, western Hudson Bay = 25 000+, eastern Hudson Bay = 2000+, Northern Hudson Bay = 700+, Southern Hudson Bay = 2000+, James Bay = 2000+, Ungava Bay = < 500, se Baf

Score:

FG

References:

Trends

Trends

some populations are depleted; Beaufort Sea stock is large and probably stable

Score:

C

References:

Threats

Threats

overhunting?, Hydro development (NU)? contaminants, oil and gas devel? (NWT); limited threats in NWT

Score:

C

References:

Intrinsic Vulnerability

oil and gas devel (NWT), hydro devel (Hudson Bay); moderate-limited threats for NWT

Score:

-

References:

General Status Rank

Rank:

Secure

Status Rank Description:

But threats should be observed, not known if beluga from different stocks interbreed - no of occurrences difficult to assess

S Rank:

S4

Decision Process Description:

Drafted by Arctic Stock Assessment DFO Committee - Freshwater Fishes - Chris Day, Dr. Ross Tallman, Dr. Sue Cosens with review by S. Carrière - Confirmed by DFO national Committee; Reviewed in 2010; no change; Reviewed in 2015; no change; Reviewed in 2020, no change

Last Updated:

June 13, 2020

Status Designations

Canada – Assessment by Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada

COSEWIC Status:

Not At Risk

References:

References

Age Of Maturity

Klinowska M (1991) Dolphins, Porpoised and Whales of the World: The IUCN Red Data Book. International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natrual Resources RWED Library Call #QL737.C4D6 - B057 Return

Area of Occupancy

Klinowska M (1991) Dolphins, Porpoised and Whales of the World: The IUCN Red Data Book. International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natrual Resources RWED Library Call #QL737.C4D6 - B057 Return
Sue Cosens (2000) Pers. communication. Arctic Stock Assessment Section, DFO Science Directorate - H135 Return

COSEWIC Status

COSEWIC (2004) COSEWIC assessment and update status report on the beluga whale Delphinapterus leucas in Canada.. COSEWIC report writen by Thamos G. Smith ix + 70 pp. (www.sararegistry.gc.ca/status/status_e.cfm). - R133 Return

Economic Status

Banfield AWF (1974) The Mammals of Canada. University of Toronto Press RWED Library Call #QL721.B3 - B001 Return
Sue Cosens (2000) Pers. communication. Arctic Stock Assessment Section, DFO Science Directorate - H135 Return

Ecozones

Wilson, Don. E and Ruff, S. (eds) (1999) The Smithsonian book of North American mammals. UBC Press 750 pp. RWED Library Call#QL715.S64 - BSC2 Return

Habitat

Banfield AWF (1974) The Mammals of Canada. University of Toronto Press RWED Library Call #QL721.B3 - B001 Return
Sue Cosens (2000) Pers. communication. Arctic Stock Assessment Section, DFO Science Directorate - H135 Return
Lois A. Harwood a, *, John Iacozza b, James C. Auld c, Pamela Norton d, Lisa Loseto (2014) Ocean & Coastal Management 100:128-138 - A430 Return

Intrinsic Vulnerability

Banfield AWF (1974) The Mammals of Canada. University of Toronto Press RWED Library Call #QL721.B3 - B001 Return
Sue Cosens (2000) Pers. communication. Arctic Stock Assessment Section, DFO Science Directorate - H135 Return

Longevity

Klinowska M (1991) Dolphins, Porpoised and Whales of the World: The IUCN Red Data Book. International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natrual Resources RWED Library Call #QL737.C4D6 - B057 Return

NWT Known Subspecies

Banfield AWF (1974) The Mammals of Canada. University of Toronto Press RWED Library Call #QL721.B3 - B001 Return

Number of Occurrences

Klinowska M (1991) Dolphins, Porpoised and Whales of the World: The IUCN Red Data Book. International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natrual Resources RWED Library Call #QL737.C4D6 - B057 Return
Wilson, Don. E and Ruff, S. (eds) (1999) The Smithsonian book of North American mammals. UBC Press 750 pp. RWED Library Call#QL715.S64 - BSC2 Return

Population Size

Klinowska M (1991) Dolphins, Porpoised and Whales of the World: The IUCN Red Data Book. International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natrual Resources RWED Library Call #QL737.C4D6 - B057 Return

,

Sue Cosens (2000) Pers. communication. Arctic Stock Assessment Section, DFO Science Directorate - H135 Return

,

Wilson, Don. E and Ruff, S. (eds) (1999) The Smithsonian book of North American mammals. UBC Press 750 pp. RWED Library Call#QL715.S64 - BSC2 Return

Short Term Trends

Klinowska M (1991) Dolphins, Porpoised and Whales of the World: The IUCN Red Data Book. International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natrual Resources RWED Library Call #QL737.C4D6 - B057 Return
Sue Cosens (2000) Pers. communication. Arctic Stock Assessment Section, DFO Science Directorate - H135 Return

Taxonomy

Banfield AWF (1974) The Mammals of Canada. University of Toronto Press RWED Library Call #QL721.B3 - B001 Return

Threats

Banfield AWF (1974) The Mammals of Canada. University of Toronto Press RWED Library Call #QL721.B3 - B001 Return
Sue Cosens (2000) Pers. communication. Arctic Stock Assessment Section, DFO Science Directorate - H135 Return