The Fin Whale is the second largest being on earth, or that has ever lived on earth, reaching lengths of 60 - 80 feet. It is second in size only to the Blue Whale.

It is the only creature with asymmetrical coloring...it's head is white on the right side but dark on the left. It has baleen plates in its mouth instead of teeth, and folded pleats of skin, or "roquals", that expand out allowing the whale to gulp in a large amount of water and fish. It then syphons the water out through the baleen, leaving the fish trapped inside the whales mouth.

Its numbers were severely depleted in the early days of whaling. Protected since the 1930's, their numbers have not recovered and is considered endangered. Japan has recently resumed hunting these protected mammals in defiance of the International Whaling Moratorium.

The Minke Whale is the smallest baleen/rorqual whale. It, like the Fin Whale, has baleen plates instead of teeth and folded pleats in its lower jaw that expand out when feeding.

It can act shy and elusive around whale watch boats or be very inquisitive and gregarious. It will spyhop, raise the head to look around, and breach, jump out of the water.

Although its numbers are not known and thought to be as depleated as the other whale species, it is still being hunted commercially by Iceland, Norway and Japan.