Bowhead Whale - Balaena mysticetus Linnaeus

bowhead — (C) 1997 Nanami Kurasawa

IKAN Guide to Whales Index

Following are cetaceans which are considered inhabitants of Japanese coastal waters.

Inside round brackets are Japanese names.

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Baleen whales
(higekujira)

right whales
(semikujira ka)

bowhead whale (hokkyoku kujira) / right whale (semi kujira) / pigmy right whale (kosemi kujira)

gray whale
(koku kujira ka)

gray whale (koku kujira)

rorqual whales
(nagasu kujira ka)

blue whale (sironagasu kujira) / fin whale (nagasu kujira) / sei whale (iwasi kujira) / Bryde’s whale (nitari kujira) / minke whale (minku kujira) / humpback whale (zato kujira)

Toothed whales
(hakujira)

porpoises
(nezumiiruka ka)

harbour porpoise (nezumi iruka) / finless porpoise (sunameri) / Dall’s porpoise (ishi iruka)

oceanic dolphins
(mairuka ka)

rough-toothed dolphin (siwahairuka) / bottlenose dolphin (handou iruka) / striped dolphin (suji iruka) / pantropical spotted dolphin (madara iruka) / northern right whale dolphin (semi iruka) / common dolphin (mairuka) / long-beaked common dolphin (hase iruka) / Fraser’s dolphin (Sarawak iruka) / pacific white-sided dolphin (kama iruka) / melon-headed whale (kazuha gondo) / pygmy killer whale (yume gondo) / false killer whale (oki gondo) / orca - killer whale (shachi) / long-finned pilot whale (hirenaga gondo) / short-finned pilot whale (kobire gondo) / Risso’s dolphin (hana gondo)

beaked whales
(akabo kujira ka)

Cuvier’s beaked whale (akabo kujira) / Baird’s beaked whale (tuchi kujira) / Stejneger’s beaked whale (ohgi hakujira) / Hubbs’ beaked whale (habbus ohgi hakujira) / Blainville’s beaked whale (kobuhakujira) / ginkgo-toothed beaked whale (ichou hakujira)

sperm whales
(makko kujira ka)

sperm whale (makkou kujira) / pygmy sperm whale (komakko) / dwarf sperm whale (ogawamakko)

Names of whales without links are under construction. Coming soon.

Reference:

About Rare Aquatic Life in Japanese Waters, National Fisheries Agency
Red List of Japanese Mammals, Mammalogical Society of Japan
Whales and Dolphins, Anthony R. Martin
Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises, Mark Carwardine
Killer Whales, Ford / Ellis / Balcomb