Known for their distinctive white color, belugas live in the chilly waters of the Arctic and subarctic. Unlike other whale species, the bones in their neck aren’t fused together so they can move their heads up, down and side to side. Belugas can even make different facial expressions—just like humans!

Beluga whales are incredibly well adapted to the Arctic environment—a five-inch-thick layer of blubber and dorsal ridge help them navigate through the harsh icy waters. To find food, they look for fish and invertebrates in the water column and on the seafloor. Belugas are good swimmers too—they can dive for 25 minutes to depths up to 800 meters.