Right whales are named as such because whalers considered them the right whales to hunt.

Subspecies
Status uncertain - possibly a subspecies.

Life span
Unknown.

Statistics
Southern right whales can be up to 18m long, weighing 30-80 tonnes. Their large heads can make up a third of the body length.

Physical description
They are dark grey or black and may have irregular white patches on their undersides. They are often covered in barnacles and callosities and have a rounded body and arched mouth-line. They lack a dorsal fin.

Distribution
Southern right whales inhabit the Southern Hemisphere in temperate and sub-polar regions.

Diet
Small crustaceans make up a large proportion of their diet.

Behaviour
They live singly or in groups of 3-4 individuals.

Reproduction
Mating and birthing takes place in the warmer waters in the spring. They breed slowly - only every 3-4 years. Southern right whales reach sexual maturity only after 5-10 years.

Conservation status
They are classified as Lower Risk by the 2000 IUCN Red List. They were hunted to near extinction in the 1800s. Although they have been protected since 1937, they are still endangered and are recovering very slowly due to their slow reproductive rate.