The southern right whale (Eubalaena australis) feeds primarily on zooplankton, especially krill and copepods, which are tiny crustaceans found in nutrient-rich waters.

Southern Right Whale: Diet and Feeding Behavior

• Primary food sources:

  • Krill (Euphausiids) – Small shrimp-like organisms.

  • Copepods – Tiny crustaceans found in cold, nutrient-rich waters.

  • Other planktonic organisms, depending on availability.

• Feeding method:

  • Southern right whales are filter feeders.

  • They use their baleen plates (long keratin structures inside their mouths) to strain food from seawater.

  • As they swim with their mouths open, water flows in, and plankton gets trapped in the baleen while excess water is expelled.

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Krill: The Main Food Source of the Southern Right Whale

Krill are small, shrimp-like crustaceans that form the foundation of the oceanic food chain. The southern right whale (Eubalaena australis) primarily feeds on Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) and other planktonic organisms in cold, nutrient-rich waters.

Characteristics of Krill

• Size: Typically 1 to 6 cm (0.4 to 2.4 inches) long.

• Lifespan: Up to 6 years, though many live shorter lives due to predation.

• Color: Mostly transparent, with a reddish-pink tint due to the presence of carotenoid pigments.

• Behavior:

  • They live in large swarms, sometimes containing millions of individuals per cubic kilometer.

  • These swarms are so dense that they can sometimes be detected from space.

• Habitat:

  • Found in Antarctic and Subantarctic waters.

  • Thrive in areas with cold upwellings where nutrients support high plankton production.

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Why Is Krill Essential for Southern Right Whales?

• High Nutritional Value: Krill are rich in lipids (fats), which help whales build up thick blubber for energy storage.

• Abundance in Feeding Grounds: Southern right whales migrate to krill-rich Antarctic waters during summer to feed.

• Efficient Filtration: The whales’ baleen plates are adapted to trap krill effectively as they swim with their mouths open.

How Do Southern Right Whales Feed on Krill?

1. Skim Feeding – The whale swims slowly with its mouth open, letting water flow through its baleen plates.

2. Filtration – The baleen traps krill while expelling excess water.

3. Consumption – The whale swallows the krill-rich mass before repeating the process.

Other Animals That Depend on Krill

Krill is a keystone species in the Antarctic ecosystem, serving as a food source for:

• Blue whales & humpback whales (also filter feeders).

• Penguins, especially Adélie and chinstrap penguins.

• Seals, such as crabeater seals.

• Seabirds, including albatrosses and petrels.

• Fish and squid, which in turn feed larger predators.

Threats to Krill Populations

• Climate Change: Warming oceans and shrinking sea ice reduce krill habitat and food sources (algae growing under ice).

• Overfishing: Krill is harvested for fishmeal and supplements, impacting marine food chains.

Where and When Do They Feed?

• They do NOT feed in Peninsula Valdés.

• Feeding happens in Antarctic and Subantarctic waters during summer (January – May).

• In Peninsula Valdés, they fast while focusing on breeding and calving, relying on their stored blubber for energy.

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