Observe and photograph a species in its natural habitat
Learn where and when to observe a species in the wild, how to recognize it in the field, and what habitats it lives in. Get photography tips adapted to its behavior and capture stunning images without disturbing the animal. For full details, open the complete profile in the WildlifePhotographer app.
Southern right whale
Scientific name: Eubalaena australis
IUCN Status: Least Concern
Family: BALAENIDAE
Group: Marine mammals
Shyness: Very shy
Safe distance: 100 m
Breeding season / Courtship: 06.06-30.09
Gestation: 365 jours
Births: 06.06-30.09
Habitat:
Temperate coastal waters and sheltered bays
Description:
The southern right whale is a large baleen whale in the family Balaenidae, measuring 13–18 m in length and weighing up to 80 tonnes. Its robust body lacks a dorsal fin and is covered with white callosities on the head. It inhabits temperate coastal waters of the Southern Hemisphere and feeds on zooplankton by slow-swimming filter feeding. During the breeding season, females give birth to and nurse calves in sheltered bays.
Recommended lens:
>=400 mm
Photography tips:
Approach quietly by boat to about 100 m, and shoot at water level to capture the blow and silhouette. Choose sunrise or sunset for raking light, and use a fast shutter speed to freeze the spout.
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