A large Arctic whale with white coloring and a rounded head, found in northern waters and known for its varied vocalizations.
From Russian 'belukha' meaning white, derived ultimately from Proto-Indo-European roots meaning bright or shining. The English spelling 'baluga' is a variant transliteration, though 'beluga' is now the standard spelling.
Belugas are sometimes called 'canaries of the sea' because they make so many different clicking, whistling, and knocking sounds that scientists believe they have names for each other—the only animal besides humans known to do this! They're so vocal that Inuit hunters could hear them breathing at the surface from far away.
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