bowhead
BOH-hed
Definition
A large, thick-bodied species of baleen whale native to Arctic and sub-Arctic waters, known for its massive, arching skull used to break through sea ice.
Etymology
The name is a compound of 'bow' (referring to the arching, bow-like shape of its massive head) and 'head,' originating in the whaling industry to describe the animal's distinct cranial anatomy.
In the news
The article lists the bowhead whale as one of the species identified in the 75,000-year-old Norwegian cave deposits, indicating that these whales inhabited the region during that interstadial period.
In a Norwegian cave in 2025, scientists found 75,000-year-old bones of polar bears, walruses, and bowhead whales — and the remains of a species of lemming now extinct in Europe that had never been found in Scandinavia before
Read the full article ↗ScienceBlog.com