Eschrichtiidae

Eschrichtiidae is a family of baleen whales within the order Cetacea, suborder Mysticeti. It comprises the genus Eschrichtius, of which the gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus) is the sole living species. The family also includes several extinct taxa known from fossil records, illustrating a lineage that extends back to the Miocene.

Gray whales are large, stocky baleen whales characterized by a mottled gray coloration with white patches from scars. They lack a prominent dorsal fin and instead have a small dorsal hump with a series of knobby protrusions along the back. Adults can reach up to about 14 meters (46 feet) in length. They are benthic feeders, using baleen to strain small invertebrates from the seafloor, often in shallow coastal areas or on the continental shelf, by bulk suction and disturbance of the seabed.

The species is found primarily in the North Pacific Ocean. Eastern North Pacific gray whales undertake long migrations between Arctic feeding grounds and warmer temperate or subtropical breeding grounds off the North American coast, while Western North Pacific populations are more resident or partially migratory within the region. The round-trip migration can be extensive, covering thousands of kilometers.

Conservation and human interactions have shaped their history. Gray whales were heavily hunted during the commercial whaling era, leading to severe declines. Protections and international management have allowed recovery in several regions, and the species is generally not listed as endangered today, though regional populations remain vulnerable to threats such as entanglement, ship strikes, and habitat disturbance.