Photo de stock - Adult Antarctic Minke Whale Balaenoptera bonaerensis surfacing in ice near Larrouy Island on the western side of the Antarctic Peninsula This whale is also known as the Southern Minke Whale The minke whale is the second smallest of the baleen whales _ only the pygmy right whale is smaller Upon reaching sexual maturity 6_8 years of age, male and female minke whales measure an average of 6 9 and 7 4 metres 22´8´ to 24´ 3´ in length, respectively Estimates of maximum length vary from 9 1 m to 10 7 m 28´10´ to 35´1´ for females and 8 8 m to 9 8 m 28´8´ 10´ to 32´5´ for males Both sexes typically weigh 4_5 tons at maturity, and the maximum weight may be as much as 14 tons The gestation period for minke whales is 10 months and babies measure 2 4 to 2 8 metres 7´10´ to 9´2´ at birth The newborns nurse for five months Minke whales typically live for 30_50 years, in some cases they may live for up to 60 years As of 2008, the IWC estimates for Southern Hemisphere Minke Whales is 665,074 The IUCN list Antarctic Minke as Lower Risk/Conservation dependent