Just a split second before surfacing, a Beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas) opens its blowhole to exhale ready to inhale when the blowhole has cleared the water. Beluga whales are an endangered and protected species in the St. Lawrence estuary, Canada

mammal cetacean whales whale beluga whale delphinapterus leucas st lawrence estuary canada north america one animal lone single blowhole blow hole blow hole surfacing swimming air bubbles bubbles endangered protected eye lips