Author(s): John Bannister

Art

Seven 'great whales' are found in the coastal waters surrounding Australia. There are six of the largest baleen whales - blue whale, fin whale, humpback whale, sei whale, Bryde's whale and southern right whale. Also found is the largest toothed whale - the sperm whale.This book provides a relatively detailed account of these huge mammals for the interested layperson. It includes the history of people's association with these extraordinary and fascinating creatures, at first through legend and wonder, then whaling, and more recently whale watching. It describes their highly specialised but still basically mammalian structure and biology, and their past and current status, in the Australian context.