bowhead
Noun: 1. A large baleen whale of Arctic waters: The bowhead is a species of whale characterized by its massive, bow-shaped head, which can constitute about one-third of its body length. It is also known for having the thickest blubber of any animal and for its long lifespan. 2. An Arctic right whale: It is scientifically classified as Balaena mysticetus and is a type of "right whale," historically considered the "right" whale to hunt due to its slow speed, high blubber content, and tendency to float when killed.
- Noun:
- The bowhead is uniquely adapted to live its entire life in the icy Arctic Ocean.
- Scientists can estimate the age of a bowhead by studying amino acids in its eye lenses.
- The massive head of the bowhead is used to break through sea ice to breathe.
- "Bowhead whale": This is the full, most common name for the species, often used interchangeably with "bowhead."
- Conservation efforts have helped the bowhead whale population recover from commercial hunting.
- Bowhead whale (n): The full common name for the species.
- Greenland right whale (n): An alternative historical name for the bowhead.
- Arctic whale (n): A general descriptive term that can refer to the bowhead.
- Baleen whale (n): The broader category of whales to which the bowhead belongs, which filter-feed using baleen plates instead of teeth.
- Arctic right whale
- Greenland whale (archaic)
The term "bowhead" refers specifically to this single species of whale. Its defining characteristics are its Arctic habitat, enormous bow-shaped skull, and status as a baleen whale. It is not a general term for any whale with a large head.
- large-mouthed Arctic whale