{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Taxon",
  "slug": "minke-whale",
  "name": "Minke Whale",
  "scientificName": "Balaenoptera acutorostrata",
  "category": "Mammal",
  "summary": "The common minke whale is the smallest baleen whale in the rorqual family, reaching 8–10 m (26–33 ft) and inhabiting oceans from the Arctic to the Antarctic. It feeds on krill and fish, surfaces frequently, and is hunted in limited numbers by Japan, Norway, and Iceland despite global concern.",
  "conservationStatus": "Least Concern",
  "taxonomy": {
    "kingdom": "Animalia",
    "phylum": "Chordata",
    "class": "Mammalia",
    "order": "Artiodactyla",
    "family": "Balaenopteridae",
    "genus": "Balaenoptera"
  },
  "stats": {
    "weightKg": 7000,
    "lengthM": 9,
    "topSpeedKmh": 35,
    "lifespanYears": 45
  },
  "facts": [
    {
      "label": "Scientific name",
      "value": "Balaenoptera acutorostrata"
    },
    {
      "label": "Diet",
      "value": "Carnivore — krill, small fish, and plankton (filter feeder)"
    },
    {
      "label": "Habitat",
      "value": "Coastal and offshore waters of all oceans; polar to temperate"
    },
    {
      "label": "Lifespan",
      "value": "30–50 years"
    },
    {
      "label": "Weight",
      "value": "5,000–10,000 kg (11,000–22,000 lb)"
    },
    {
      "label": "Top speed",
      "value": "Up to 35 km/h (22 mph)"
    },
    {
      "label": "Conservation status",
      "value": "Least Concern (IUCN)"
    }
  ],
  "range": {
    "nativeRange": "Common minke in the North Atlantic and North Pacific; dwarf and Antarctic minke in Southern Ocean waters from the ice edge to temperate seas.",
    "continents": [
      "Africa",
      "Asia",
      "Europe",
      "North America",
      "Oceania",
      "Oceans",
      "South America"
    ]
  },
  "sources": [
    {
      "citation": "IUCN Red List — Balaenoptera acutorostrata.",
      "url": "https://www.iucnredlist.org/search?query=Balaenoptera%20acutorostrata&searchType=species"
    },
    {
      "citation": "Animal Diversity Web — Balaenoptera acutorostrata. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.",
      "url": "https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Balaenoptera_acutorostrata/"
    },
    {
      "citation": "Wikipedia — Minke Whale.",
      "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_minke_whale"
    }
  ],
  "lastReviewed": "2026-07-16",
  "canonicalUrl": "https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/minke-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/minke-whale/",
    "note": "Free to reuse for non-commercial purposes with attribution and a link back to the canonical page."
  }
}