- Lifespan
- 12–15 years in the wild, occasionally up to 24 years
- Size & Weight
- 1.5–2 m in length; 24–76 kg (females smaller than males)
- Habitat
- Coastal waters, estuaries, and bays with depths of 10–200 m, preferring cooler temperate and subarctic seas.
- UK Distribution
- Found year-round around the UK coastline, with highest concentrations in the North Sea, Irish Sea, and English Channel; generally resident with some seasonal movements.
- Diet
- Small fish including whiting, cod, herring, and sand eels, supplemented by cephalopods.
- Prey
- Whiting, cod, herring, sand eels, squid
- Predators
- Orcas (killer whales) and great white sharks in UK waters; occasionally large seals.
- Mating Season
- June to November, with peak mating in summer months
- Breeding
- Single calf born after 10–11 month gestation (spring births peak April–June); calves weaned at 3–4 months; females breed annually or biennially.
- Behaviour
- Typically solitary or in small groups (2–5 individuals), though larger aggregations occur in rich feeding grounds. They are fast swimmers, relatively elusive, and shy, diving to depths of 100 m. Communication occurs via clicks and whistles.