{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Taxon",
  "slug": "beluga-whale",
  "name": "Beluga Whale",
  "scientificName": "Delphinapterus leucas",
  "category": "Mammal",
  "summary": "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.",
  "conservationStatus": "Near Threatened",
  "taxonomy": {
    "kingdom": "Animalia",
    "phylum": "Chordata",
    "class": "Mammalia",
    "order": "Artiodactyla",
    "family": "Monodontidae",
    "genus": "Delphinapterus"
  },
  "stats": {
    "weightKg": 1400,
    "lengthM": 4.5,
    "topSpeedKmh": 22,
    "lifespanYears": 50
  },
  "facts": [
    {
      "label": "Scientific name",
      "value": "Delphinapterus leucas"
    },
    {
      "label": "Diet",
      "value": "Carnivore — fish, crustaceans, worms, and cephalopods"
    },
    {
      "label": "Habitat",
      "value": "Arctic and sub-Arctic seas, estuaries, and pack ice"
    },
    {
      "label": "Lifespan",
      "value": "35–50 years in the wild"
    },
    {
      "label": "Weight",
      "value": "700–1,400 kg (1,540–3,090 lb); males larger"
    },
    {
      "label": "Top speed",
      "value": "Up to 22 km/h (14 mph); agile under ice"
    },
    {
      "label": "Conservation status",
      "value": "Near Threatened (IUCN)"
    }
  ],
  "range": {
    "nativeRange": "Arctic and sub-Arctic waters of Russia, Canada, Alaska, and Greenland — estuaries like Churchill and St. Lawrence River.",
    "continents": [
      "Asia",
      "Europe",
      "North America",
      "Oceans"
    ]
  },
  "sources": [
    {
      "citation": "IUCN Red List — Delphinapterus leucas.",
      "url": "https://www.iucnredlist.org/search?query=Delphinapterus%20leucas&searchType=species"
    },
    {
      "citation": "Animal Diversity Web — Delphinapterus leucas. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.",
      "url": "https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Delphinapterus_leucas/"
    }
  ],
  "lastReviewed": "2026-07-16",
  "canonicalUrl": "https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/beluga-whale/",
  "license": {
    "name": "CC BY-NC 4.0",
    "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/",
    "attribution": "Global Animal Guide — https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/beluga-whale/",
    "note": "Free to reuse for non-commercial purposes with attribution and a link back to the canonical page."
  }
}