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Wildlife of the World

Puzzle 57 · Polar and Subpolar Worlds · Page 88 in print

Beluga Estuaries

Belugas use the Churchill River estuary on Hudson Bay during summer. Across their range, some beluga populations rub against gravel while moulting; coastal gatherings also provide places to feed and raise calves.

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A group of belugas surfaces in Québec waters.

A group of belugas surfaces in Québec waters.

Species reference for Beluga Estuaries. The photograph does not necessarily show the population or place named in the puzzle.

(c) Joeb, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC BY 4.0 · Original record
Image changes

Resized and converted to JPEG for display; no subject alteration.

Belugas swim close together near Churchill, Manitoba.

Belugas swim close together near Churchill, Manitoba.

Species reference for Beluga Estuaries. The photograph does not necessarily show the population or place named in the puzzle.

(c) Henrik Kibak, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC BY 4.0 · Original record
Image changes

Resized and converted to JPEG for display; no subject alteration.

The words

  1. Beluga

    Belugas use shallow coastal waters in summer.

    NOAA Fisheries (opens a new tab)

  2. Bulbous Head

    The beluga has a small bulbous head.

    Animal Diversity Web (opens a new tab)

  3. Canada

    Belugas are common in Canada.

    NOAA Fisheries (opens a new tab)

  4. Cetacean

    A member of the whale, dolphin and porpoise group; the beluga is a toothed whale.

    NOAA Fisheries (opens a new tab)

  5. Churchill

    Western Hudson Bay belugas summer in the Churchill estuary.

    PLOS ONE (opens a new tab)

  6. Cook Inlet

    A small endangered beluga stock lives in Cook Inlet, Alaska.

    Animal Diversity Web (opens a new tab)

  7. Dorsal Ridge

    A tough dorsal ridge replaces the dorsal fin.

    NOAA Fisheries (opens a new tab)

  8. Echolocation

    Finding prey by echoing sound.

    Belugas echolocate to navigate and hunt.

    NOAA Fisheries (opens a new tab)

  9. Flippers

    Male belugas have slightly curled flipper tips.

    Animal Diversity Web (opens a new tab)

  10. Gravel Beds

    Belugas rub against coarse gravel in shallow water to shed skin.

    NOAA Fisheries (opens a new tab)

  11. Herring

    Belugas eat herring.

    NOAA Fisheries (opens a new tab)

  12. Hudson Bay

    Belugas migrate in and around Hudson Bay.

    Animal Diversity Web (opens a new tab)

  13. Russia

    Belugas are common in Russia.

    NOAA Fisheries (opens a new tab)

  14. Salmon

    Belugas eat salmon.

    NOAA Fisheries (opens a new tab)

  15. Sea Canary

    Belugas are nicknamed the sea canary for their many sounds.

    Animal Diversity Web (opens a new tab)

Sources

  1. Beluga Estuaries (source capture)NOAA Fisheries
  2. Beluga Estuaries (source capture)Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology
  3. Beluga Estuaries (source capture)PLOS ONE (peer-reviewed article, Westdal et al. 2022)

How we choose sources and photographs