dwfminke270503

A rare dwarf minke whale discovered on Station Creek Beach in southern Yuraygir National Park, south east of Grafton, NSW north coast, 27 May 2003

The 2.2 metre whale, approximately six months old, was dead when it was discovered.

Although the creature had a number shark bites including a large wound on the tail fluke it is not clear as to the cause of death.

Little is known about dwarf minke whales as they have only recently been recognised as separate species from the larger Antarctic minke whale.

Dwarf whales are only found in the southern hemisphere in the Indian and Pacific oceans and have been reported from all Australian states except Tasmania and the Northern Territory.

They are recorded in Australian waters in May to July and usually only mother and calf pairs are seen.

Dwarf minke whales are the second smallest baleen whale and are known to grow to about 7.5 metres or about two metres smaller than the much more numerous Antarctic minke whale.