The bowhead whale is a true Arctic giant. With a massive skull that can break through sea ice and insulating blubber up to 48 centimeters (19 inches) thick, this baleen whale is well adapted to life in some of the coldest waters on Earth.
Among the largest whales in the world, bowhead whales can be nearly 19 meters (62 feet) long and weigh up to 90,718 kilograms (200,000 pounds). They are named for their enormous, arched heads — making up nearly a third of their body length — which they use to punch through sea ice up to 20 centimeters (8 inches) thick. Unlike most whales, they have no dorsal fin. Their smooth, dark bodies are often marked with white patches on the chin and tail as well as multiple scars, which help researchers identify individuals.
Bowheads are filter feeders, using their baleen plates — the longest of any whale — to strain tiny prey like krill and copepods from the water. They sometimes come together in groups of up to 14 individuals to feed together. While these whales stay in the Arctic and sub-Arctic year-round, they do undertake migrations within these waters, following receding ice drifts. Bowhead whales may live to be over 200 years old, which would make them the longest-lived mammals on Earth.