Translation 2783

Oei ','! hale (Balaenuyera borealis Lesson, 1020)
In the jar hast sei whales are sometimes called saithe whales
or sardine whales, as they are ,often Ai .......scovered along wi0a1G of
. saithe or sardines.
14
In the northern hemisphere sei wnales a .utain a lenLrth of 17.3
metres (eor•e Atlantic) or 13,6 metres (northern
Ocean). -
of the Pacific
The largest specimens are found in Lhe.southern hemisphere,
where moi • hales up to 21.0 metres in length have been recorded.
Tne soi whale resembles the fin whale in bouy shape, but differs
in having . somewhat greater bulk. The body diameter of a sei
whale at the level or the flippers is from 16:» to 16 / , or the body
length. '2,xternally, therefore, it looks more massive . than the fin
whale (Fig. 47, c).
The dorsal fin of the sei whale is located at the beginning
of the posterior third of the body. It is larger thah that of the
fin whale and different in shape, and its height is from 3 ) to 4.57 ,
of the body length. The angle formed by die front edge of the dorsal
fin and the longitudinal axis or the body averages about 46 0 (from
43 o to 51 o ). 111 .1e sei whale's dorsal fin is slenderer and its point
is directed well backward, with the result that the front edge is
curved like a bow; the.dorsal fin of the fin ,hale is thicker and
has aImost . no curvature. • •
There are varying nUmbers of groove's on Lee ventral surfacez .
from 30 to 56 (Lorth Atlantic), from 32 to 60 (northern part of the
Iacific• ocean), and from 40 to 62 (southern hemisphere); they do not
reach the umbilicus.
They are "about 5 cm ,ide and 2 cm deep
The head occwlies from 205,; to 25 of the body length (it.is
shorter in juveniles) and resembles the fin whale's head in shape.
A crest runs along the centre of the head, its height increasing with
its distance from the tip of the snout.
the very highest point of the head.
The blow-hole is located at
The dorsal part; of the body is dar1:- e3rcy wi.th n bluish tinge;
the sides and the caudal part behind the umbilicus are light-greyish,
and on the ventral side there is usually a lire white patch, but
=act:Lies mat ma,y be absent. •,mall light-coloureu s,ots.of various
Shapes ere scatL.ored over the whole body. ,:oth sides of' Liu: lower
jnw are of Lhe srue colodr.
.he nippers are usu:dly _nyish Dulew,
but .teeir up er parts have the same ce1our as Le, s el.;