In cetaceans, maternal care is long-lasting. Offspring remain close to their mothers for an extended period, even after they can feed themselves. All whale species nurse their young for several months, though the exact duration varies by species. In Southern Right Whales, the gestation period typically lasts one year, followed by lactation for four to six months. Females have two mammary slits on either side of the genital slit, below the belly. Cetaceans lack sucking muscles; instead, the calf applies pressure to the nipple, causing milk to be ejected into its mouth.
The southern right whale makes long annual migrations. In summer and autumn it feeds in the cold waters near the slope of the Argentine Sea and Subantarctic Islands. During winter and spring, it migrates to temperate waters in the north Patagonian gulfs, the northern sector of the Argentine Sea, Uruguay and southern Brazil, where it breeds.
This species can be sighted in coasts from Maldonado to Rocha, approximately from July or August until October.
• Southern right whale
• Ballena franca austral
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Mammalia
Order:Artiodactyla
Infraorder:Cetacea
Family:Balaenidae
Genus:Eubalaena
Species:E. australis
Costa Bonita, Rocha, Uruguay
Photo Taken: October 05, 2024
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