# How Big Is A Beluga Whale?

> Beluga Whale size and weight: typical 700–1,400 kg (1,540–3,090 lb); males larger, dimorphism, and growth.

- **Species:** Beluga Whale (*Delphinapterus leucas*)
- **Conservation status:** Near Threatened
- **Diet:** Carnivore — fish, crustaceans, worms, and cephalopods
- **Habitat:** Arctic and sub-Arctic seas, estuaries, and pack ice
- **Lifespan:** 35–50 years in the wild
- **Top speed:** Up to 22 km/h (14 mph); agile under ice
- **Canonical HTML:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/beluga-whale/how-big-is-a-beluga-whale/
- **Parent profile:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/beluga-whale/
- **Last reviewed:** 2026-07-16

## Quick answer

The beluga is a small, sociable white whale of the Arctic and sub-Arctic seas, easily recognised by its rounded forehead and lack of a dorsal fin. Adults grow to about 4.5 m and weigh between 700 and 1,400 kg, with males the larger sex. Belugas swim in tight-knit pods, feed on fish and invertebrates, and can live 35 to 50 years. The IUCN lists the species as Near Threatened.

## Who should skip this page

Skip this if you need the full biology — use the [Beluga Whale profile](https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/beluga-whale/) instead.

## Appearance and adaptations

Belugas are unmistakable: pure white as adults, with a bulbous 'melon' on the forehead and no dorsal fin. That flat back is an adaptation to life among sea ice, letting them swim close beneath the surface and break through thin ice to breathe. Unlike most whales, belugas have unfused neck vertebrae, so they can turn and nod their heads. A thick layer of blubber, up to 40 percent of body weight, insulates them in near-freezing water.

## Help protect the Beluga Whale

Belugas face noise pollution, climate change in the Arctic, and welfare concerns in captivity.

[Donate to wildlife protection](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/donate/)

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Source: Global Animal Guide (https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/beluga-whale/how-big-is-a-beluga-whale/). Licensed CC BY-NC 4.0 — free for non-commercial reuse with attribution.