grey whale
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- A species of baleen whale: The grey whale is a medium-sized whale found primarily in the North Pacific Ocean. It is known for its greyish-black skin, which is often mottled with white patches from scars and barnacles.
- A migratory marine mammal: This whale is famous for its long annual migration between feeding grounds in the Arctic and breeding lagoons in Baja California, Mexico.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- We went on a boat tour hoping to see a grey whale. (We went on a boat tour hoping to see a grey whale.)
- The grey whale population has recovered significantly since protections were put in place. (The grey whale population has recovered significantly since protections were put in place.)
- Scientists study the feeding behavior of the grey whale. (Scientists study the feeding behavior of the grey whale.)
Advanced Usage
"grey whale calf": a young grey whale.
- The mother grey whale closely guarded her calf during the migration.
"grey whale watching": the activity of observing grey whales, often from boats or shore.
- Grey whale watching is a popular tourist activity along the coast.
Variants and Related Words
Gray whale: An alternative spelling, commonly used in American English.
- The gray whale is also known by its scientific name, Eschrichtius robustus.
Baleen whale: The broader category of whales to which the grey whale belongs, characterized by having baleen plates for filter feeding.
- Cetacean: The order of marine mammals that includes whales, dolphins, and porpoises.
Synonyms
- Eschrichtius robustus: The scientific (Latin) name for the grey whale.
- Devilfish: An old historical name for the grey whale, stemming from its defensive behavior when hunted.
Related Phrases
- "to spyhop": a behavior where a whale raises its head vertically out of the water to look around; commonly observed in grey whales.
- The curious grey whale began to spyhop near our boat.
Noun
- medium-sized greyish-black whale of the northern Pacific