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Beluga WhaleDelphinapterus leucas

Every figure, record and mechanism on the Beluga Whale profile was written from a source, and this is the working table behind it: 44 claims checked word for word against these sources. The left column is what the page says. The right column is the source's own words, copied, not paraphrased; a ... marks a cut and[brackets] an insertion. Open any source and check it yourself.

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Source
01

NOAA Fisheries

Beluga Whale. NOAA Fisheries.

The page saysNicknamed the "sea canary" for its squeals and chirps
The source saysThey squeal, squeak, and chirp, which is why sailors long ago called them “sea canaries.”
The page saysan unfused neck
The source saystheir neck vertebrae are not fused, allowing belugas to nod and move their heads from side to side
The page saysArctic and subarctic seas
The source saysThey swim among ice floes in arctic and subarctic waters
The page saysusually shallow coastal waters in summer, estuaries and large river deltas seasonally
The source saysBelugas are usually found in shallow coastal waters during the summer months. ... Belugas also seasonally inhabit estuaries and large river deltas to feed on fish runs
The page saysin other seasons may be found in deeper water, diving to 1,000 metres
The source saysDuring other seasons, they may be found in deeper waters, diving to 1,000-meter depths for up to 25 minutes.
The page saysSalmon, eulachon, cod, herring, smelt, and squid
The source saysBeluga whales have a varied diet consisting of a variety of fish, including salmon, eulachon, cod, herring, smelt, and flatfish as well as invertebrates such as octopus, squid, crabs, shrimp, clams, snails, and sandworms.
The page saysA flexible melon that focuses and modulates its echolocation clicks
The source saysa round, flexible “melon” that focuses and modulates their vocalizations, including echolocation “clicks.”
The page says(Delphinapterus leucas) is white
The source saysTheir skin lightens as they age, becoming white as they reach maturity.
The page saysno dorsal fin
The source saysInstead of a dorsal fin, belugas have a tough dorsal ridge
The page saysno pronounced beak and a round bulge on top of its head
The source saysThey lack a pronounced rostrum, or beak, and the top of their head is characterized by a round, flexible “melon”
The page saysThat bulge is the melon, a flexible organ that focuses and modulates the whale's calls, including its echolocation clicks
The source saysthe top of their head is characterized by a round, flexible “melon” that focuses and modulates their vocalizations, including echolocation “clicks.”
The page saysA beluga weighs 3,150 pounds (about 1,430 kg) on average
The source saysWeight Average 3,150 poundsNote: 1,430 kg converted from 3,150 lb (1,428.8 kg)
The page saysgrows up to 16 feet (4.9 m) long
The source saysLength Up to 16 feetNote: 4.9 m converted from 16 ft (4.88 m)
The page saysIt can live up to 90 years
The source saysLifespan Up to 90 years
The page saysScientists can age a beluga by its teeth, which lay down one growth layer a year, like tree rings
The source saysSimilar to tree rings that can be used to age a tree, beluga teeth develop a “growth layer group” (GLG) annually.
The page saysThe oldest beluga on record had 80 layers, and because teeth wear down, it may have been even older
The source saysThe oldest recorded beluga on record had 80 GLGs, though this age might be an underestimate of its actual age due to tooth wear.Note: "because teeth wear down" paraphrases "due to tooth wear"
The page saysBelugas live in the Arctic Ocean and its nearby seas, and are common in many parts of Alaska, Russia, Canada and Greenland
The source saysBeluga whales live in the Arctic Ocean and its nearby seas in the Northern Hemisphere. They are common to many regions of Alaska, as well as Russia, Canada, and Greenland.
The page saysIn summer they are usually found in shallow coastal waters, and they also move seasonally into estuaries and large river deltas to feed on fish runs
The source saysBelugas are usually found in shallow coastal waters during the summer months. ... Belugas also seasonally inhabit estuaries and large river deltas to feed on fish runs
The page saysIn other seasons they may head for deeper water, diving to 1,000 metres for up to 25 minutes
The source saysDuring other seasons, they may be found in deeper waters, diving to 1,000-meter depths for up to 25 minutes.
The page saysTheir diet is a broad seafood spread: salmon, eulachon, cod, herring, smelt and flatfish, plus octopus, squid, crabs, shrimp, clams, snails and sandworms
The source saysBeluga whales have a varied diet consisting of a variety of fish, including salmon, eulachon, cod, herring, smelt, and flatfish as well as invertebrates such as octopus, squid, crabs, shrimp, clams, snails, and sandworms.
The page saysTheir predators include killer whales and polar bears
The source sayspredation (e.g., killer whales, polar bears)
The page saysThe genus name Delphinapterus translates to "dolphin without a fin."
The source saysThe genus name Delphinapterus translates to “dolphin without a fin.”
The page saysInstead of a fin, belugas carry a tough dorsal ridge, which allows them to swim easily under ice floes, sheets of floating ice
The source saysInstead of a dorsal fin, belugas have a tough dorsal ridge, which allows them to swim easily under ice floes (sheets of floating ice).
The page saysA layer of blubber up to 40 percent of their body weight keeps them warm and stores energy
The source saysBeluga whales are covered with a thick layer of blubber that accounts for up to 40 percent of their weight. The blubber keeps them warm in the arctic waters and stores energy.
The page saysevery summer some populations shed their outer skin in an annual molt, rubbing against coarse gravel in shallow water to help remove the old, yellowed skin
The source saysSome beluga populations shed their outer skin layer each summer during an annual molt. They rub against coarse gravel in shallow waters to help remove the old, yellowed skin layer.
The page saysunlike other whales and dolphins, whose neck vertebrae are fused, a beluga's are not, allowing it to nod and move its head from side to side
The source saysUnlike other dolphins and whales, their neck vertebrae are not fused, allowing belugas to nod and move their heads from side to side.
The page saysBelugas are known to go through menopause, along with humans and other whales such as killer whales and narwhals
The source saysSpecies known to undergo menopause include humans, beluga whales, killer whales, false killer whales, narwhals, short-finned pilot whales, and likely, bottlenose dolphins.
The page saysIn northwest Alaska, pregnancy rates showed signs of decline after age 46
The source saysPregnancy rates showed signs of decline after the age of 46 years in northwest Alaska.
The page saysyet the oldest female there, aged 70, was carrying a near-term fetus, a calf nearly ready to be born
The source saysHowever, it is notable that the oldest female in northwest Alaska, age 70, was carrying a near-term fetus.
The page saysSailors nicknamed them "sea canaries" because they squeal, squeak, and chirp.
The source saysThey squeal, squeak, and chirp, which is why sailors long ago called them “sea canaries.”Note: "because" paraphrases "which is why"
The page saysNOAA Fisheries notes belugas produce many different sounds, from whistles and squeals to moos, chirps, and clicks, and rely on their hearing and echolocation to navigate and hunt for prey.
The source saysBelugas are known as the “canaries of the sea” because they produce many different sounds, including whistles, squeals, moos, chirps, and clicks. They rely on their hearing and ability to echolocate, using sound, to navigate and hunt for prey.
The page saysUnlike other whales and dolphins, a beluga's neck vertebrae are not fused, allowing it to nod and move its head from side to side.
The source saysUnlike other dolphins and whales, their neck vertebrae are not fused, allowing belugas to nod and move their heads from side to side.
The page saysSome beluga populations shed their outer skin layer every summer in an annual molt, rubbing against coarse gravel in shallow water to help remove the old, yellowed layer.
The source saysSome beluga populations shed their outer skin layer each summer during an annual molt. They rub against coarse gravel in shallow waters to help remove the old, yellowed skin layer.
The page saysa whale that sailors called the "sea canary": belugas squeal, squeak and chirp
The source saysThey squeal, squeak, and chirp, which is why sailors long ago called them “sea canaries.”
The page saysa round, flexible melon on the forehead focuses and modulates their calls
The source saysthe top of their head is characterized by a round, flexible “melon” that focuses and modulates their vocalizations
The page saystags: ocean
The source saysThey swim among ice floes in arctic and subarctic waters ... are thus well-adapted to both cold ocean habitats and relatively warmer freshwater habitats.
The page saystags: freshwater
The source saysBelugas also seasonally inhabit estuaries and large river deltas to feed on fish runs, and are thus well-adapted to both cold ocean habitats and relatively warmer freshwater habitats.

Source
02

Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan

Delphinapterus leucas (beluga). Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan.

The page saysa bulbous forehead that can break through ice for a breath
The source saysBelugas spend a lot of their time near ice packs in the winter and are commonly seen using their bulbous forehead to break through ice 10cm thick in order to make a hole for breathing.
The page saysa bulbous forehead that can break through ice 10 centimetres thick
The source sayscommonly seen using their bulbous forehead to break through ice 10cm thick in order to make a hole for breathing
The page saysBelugas use those clicks along with their melon-like forehead to find cracks in the ice
The source saysTheir clicks are often in short pulses and are used along with their melon like forehead as a type of echolocation to find cracks in the ice caps to surface to breathe.Note: ADW's "often" qualifies the clicks' short pulses, not how often the melon is used, so it is not dropped
The page sayscommonly seen using that same bulbous forehead to break through ice 10 centimetres thick to make a hole for breathing
The source sayscommonly seen using their bulbous forehead to break through ice 10cm thick in order to make a hole for breathing
The page saysThat bulge is the melon. Belugas use their clicks along with that melon-like forehead as a type of echolocation to find cracks in the ice.
The source saysTheir clicks are often in short pulses and are used along with their melon like forehead as a type of echolocation to find cracks in the ice caps to surface to breathe.Note: ADW's "often" qualifies the clicks' short pulses, not how often the melon is used, so it is not dropped
The page saysThey are also commonly seen using the same bulbous forehead to break through ice 10 centimetres thick to make a hole for breathing.
The source sayscommonly seen using their bulbous forehead to break through ice 10cm thick in order to make a hole for breathing

Source
03

Lowry, Reeves & Laidre 2017

Lowry, Reeves & Laidre (2017). Delphinapterus leucas. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2017: e.T6335A50352346.

The page saysLeast Concern
The source saysIUCN Red List category: Least Concern (LC).

How the table was made: a writer drafted the profile from these sources and logged each claim with its quote, a reviewer with nothing but this table checked every sentence said no more than its quote, and a script confirmed each quote appears word for word in the source. The method is in the site'sAbout page.