Minke whales, among the most abundant and smallest of the baleen whales, inhabit oceans across the globe, from polar to temperate and even some tropical waters. Their wide distribution is supported by a remarkably varied and adaptable diet, allowing them to thrive in diverse marine environments. The composition of their meals can shift significantly depending on their geographic location and the season.
Primary Food Sources of Minke Whales
The main diet of minke whales includes a variety of small marine organisms, primarily categorized as crustaceans and schooling fish. Antarctic minke whales largely consume krill, specifically Antarctic krill and ice krill, which are abundant in their polar habitats. Other crustaceans like copepods and euphausiids also form part of their diet across different regions.
Beyond crustaceans, small schooling fish represent a substantial portion of their diet, particularly for Northern Hemisphere populations. Common prey species include:
Capelin
Herring
Sand lance
Pollock
Cod
Anchovies
Mackerel
Sprat
Saury
Salmon
Wolffish
Eels
How Minke Whales Hunt and Feed
Minke whales employ a specialized feeding technique known as lunge-feeding, which involves rapidly accelerating to engulf large volumes of water and prey. This method allows them to capture dense concentrations of small organisms efficiently. After engulfing the water, the whale expels it through its baleen plates, trapping the food inside its mouth.
Two anatomical features are central to this feeding process: expandable throat pleats and baleen plates. Minke whales possess ventral grooves, or throat pleats, that stretch from their chin to their belly, enabling their throat to expand to hold a large gulp of water. Inside their mouths, comb-like baleen plates hang down like a sieve. These plates filter out the water while retaining small fish and krill.
Dietary Adaptations by Location
The diet of a minke whale is not uniform across all oceans, demonstrating a notable capacity for dietary adjustments based on their habitat. Antarctic minke whales, for example, primarily consume krill, with Antarctic krill being their main food source in offshore areas and ice krill prevalent in coastal regions. This specialization reflects the immense abundance of krill in the Southern Ocean.
In contrast, minke whales in the Northern Hemisphere, including those in the Atlantic and Pacific, exhibit a diverse diet that incorporates various fish species. North Atlantic populations frequently feed on capelin, herring, sand eels, cod, and haddock, alongside some krill. Research in areas like Icelandic waters has shown shifts in their diet, with a decrease in sandeel consumption and an increase in herring and haddock. North Pacific populations adjust their prey selection seasonally, targeting Japanese anchovy in spring and early summer, then Pacific saury, and later krill.