🌿Native Nature

Grey Whale

Eschrichtius robustus

Taxonomy

Kingdom: Animalia ›Phylum: Chordata ›Class: Mammalia ›Order: Artiodactyla ›Family: Eschrichtiidae ›Genus: Eschrichtius

About

The gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus), also known as the grey whale, gray back whale, Pacific gray whale, or California gray whale is a baleen whale that migrates between feeding and breeding grounds yearly. It reaches a length of 14.9 meters (49 ft), a weight of 36 tonnes (40 short tons), and lives between 55 and 70 years. The common name of the whale comes from the gray patches and white mottling on its dark skin. Gray whales...

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the scientific name of Grey Whale?
The scientific name of Grey Whale is Eschrichtius robustus.
What is the conservation status of Grey Whale?
The Grey Whale has a conservation status of Least Concern.
What kingdom does Grey Whale belong to?
Grey Whale belongs to the kingdom Animalia.
What phylum does Grey Whale belong to?
Grey Whale belongs to the phylum Chordata.
What class does Grey Whale belong to?
Grey Whale belongs to the class Mammalia.
What order does Grey Whale belong to?
Grey Whale belongs to the order Artiodactyla.
What family does Grey Whale belong to?
Grey Whale belongs to the family Eschrichtiidae.
What genus does Grey Whale belong to?
Grey Whale belongs to the genus Eschrichtius.

In the News

Gray whales are suffering catastrophic population decline in the Pacific Ocean

Gray whales are experiencing a potentially catastrophic population decline, a sharp reversal from what had been considered a conservation success. As of July 6, 2026, there were 145 gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus) stranding deaths in the Pacific, according to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) data. The environmental non-profit Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER) […]

Mongabay · 7/16/2026

San Francisco turns to AI to save whales from ship strikes as deaths soar

Climate change is pushing starving grey whales to San Francisco Bay, where ship strikes led to 40% of 21 deaths Ferries, cargo ships and tankers cut through choppy waters in the San Francisco Bay on Tuesday as a whale surfaced nearby, its spout barely visible against the white caps. Until now, whales could easily go unnoticed by mariners, but an AI-powered detection network launched this week is designed to track them day and night. The system, called WhaleSpotter, scans the bay around the clock for whale blows and heat signatures up to 2 nautical miles away, alerting mariners to slow down or reroute when whales are nearby. Continue reading...

The Guardian Environment · 5/20/2026