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Nature

Beluga

What is beluga?

· James MacDonald

Key facts

Scientific name (whale) Delphinapterus leucas[1]
Scientific name (sturgeon) Huso huso[1]
Common name (whale) White whale[1]
Common name (sturgeon) Beluga sturgeon[2]
Source area (sturgeon) Black Sea and Caspian Sea[1]

Beluga refers to two distinct animals: the white whale (*Delphinapterus leucas*) and the beluga sturgeon (*Huso huso*), a large fish from the Black Sea and Caspian Sea. The term also describes caviar made from the sturgeon's roe.

Context

Beluga is a term used for two very different animals. One is the white whale (*Delphinapterus leucas*), an Arctic species. The other is the beluga sturgeon (*Huso huso*), a large fish from the Black Sea and Caspian Sea. The name also applies to beluga caviar, which comes from the roe of the sturgeon. The whale is sometimes called the white whale, and the fish is known as the beluga sturgeon. [1]

Documented claims

  • Beluga can mean two animals: a whale and a sturgeon. [1]
  • Beluga caviar is made from beluga roe. [1]
  • The whale is also called the white whale. [1]
  • The sturgeon is associated with the Black Sea and Caspian Sea. [1]

Related

White SturgeonEn annan art i samma familj som lasaren kan vilja jamfora med.Lake SturgeonEn narliggande art i samma familj som lasaren kan vilja utforska.

Questions and answers

Is beluga a whale or a dolphin?

Beluga is a whale, specifically the white whale (*Delphinapterus leucas*). It is not a dolphin. [1]

What is beluga famous for?

Beluga is famous for two things: the white whale, known for its distinctive color and Arctic habitat, and beluga caviar, a luxury food made from the roe of the beluga sturgeon. [1]

Does Canada have beluga whales?

The sources do not specify whether Canada has beluga whales. [1]

How many belugas are left?

The sources do not provide population numbers for belugas. [1]

Sources

  1. Beluga Whale — fisheries.noaa.gov (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  2. BELUGA Definition & Meaning — dictionary.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)

Sources last checked August 3, 2026. · More in Nature