Beluga Whale (
Delphinapterus leucas
)
The beluga whale is a bright white marine mammal that lives in the subpolar and polar waters above the Arctic Circle. They are known for their loud, clear vocalizations. Often their “singing” can be heard above the ocean surface by people in boats or onshore! Belugas feed in coastal waters during the summer and near the ice edge during the winter. Sadly, due to climate change and pollution, their polar habitats and the Arctic ecosystem, in general, are rapidly changing. Scientists have identified beluga whales as threatened near extinction.
