Gray Whale

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Scientific Name:

                                       Eschrichtius robustus

Size:

         --- gray whales grow to be at most 45-50 feet long, weighing about 36 tons
                  --- females are larger than males, as with all baleen whales.

Habitat:

                    --- gray whales live at the surface of the ocean near the coastline but dive to the bottom
                                 to feed

Social Groups:

                         --- gray whales congregated in small pods of about 3 whales, but the pod
                                                                may have as many as 16 members
                                            --- large groups (up to hundreds of whales) form in feeding waters, but these are
                                                   loose, temporary associations
                                           --- they do not form long-term bonds

World Population:

                              --- It is estimated that there are about 15,000-22,000 gray whales world-wide. Gray whales are a protected species.