The sei
whale (pronounced "say") measures 25-50 feet
(8-15 m) in length and weighs 40 tons (36 metric tons),
making it the third largest baleen whale, behind the
blue and finback whales. It can be identified by its
inverted "V" shaped water spout which reaches
6-8 feet into the air. The body is dark gray with variable
white undersides, usually limited to the area of the
throat grooves which do not reach as far as the navel.
In Antarctic and Pacific populations, there are light-colored
patches all over the upper body. However, Atlantic populations
lack the patches and are more uniformly dark. The sei
whale resembles a blue or finback whale, but has a smaller
and more curved dorsal fin and is dark on the undersides
of the flippers and tail flukes. This whale may be the
fastest of the large whales, able to cruise at 16 mph
(14 knots) with a maximum speed of 40 mph (35 knots)
recorded. Sei whales usually travel alone or in small
groups of five or less.
