The minke whale is a small baleen whale with 50-70 throat grooves. It is the smallest baleen whale. Minke whales grow to be about 25-30 feet (7.8-9 m) long, weighing about 6-7.5 tons (5.4-6.8 tonnes). Minke whales have a characteristic white band on each flipper, contrasting with its very dark gray top color. Females are larger than males, as with all baleen whales.