November 4, 2025
Meet Newly Named North Atlantic Right Whales Dandelion, Bermuda, and Kodama — and Get the Stories Behind their Names
Estimated reading time: 0 minutes
BY: Hanna Vatcher
The newest members of the North Atlantic right whale population now have names. Each name tells a remarkable story.
Right whales start their journey with just an identifying number, but later they get a special name. The process of naming a whale goes beyond assigning a label — these names tell a story of survival, unique markings, or a special connection to a place. Each year, the North Atlantic Right Whale Consortium invites the public to suggest names for a few right whales. Scientists then review the submissions and announce the new names.
Unique Markings Tell a Whale’s Story
At first glance, right whales may look similar. But each right whale has distinct white patches of hardened skin on its head, called callosities. These form unique patterns that help scientists recognize individual whales
Meet this year’s newly named North Atlantic right whales: Dandelion, Bermuda, Kodama, and Cavatappi
Dandelion, Right Whale #4120: 14-year-old female
Researchers named Dandelion for the five clumped callosity islands on her head, with two drifting away like dandelion seeds blowing in the wind. She’s the daughter of Flounder (#2420). In December 2024, observers spotted her entangled in fishing gear off Massachusetts. By February 2025, she was seen again, this time gear-free, though the long-term impact of her entanglement remains unclear.

Bermuda, Right Whale #3780: 18-year-old female
Bermuda displays three distinct callosities on her head that form a triangular pattern. One of these callosities is darker in color, occasionally fades from view drawing comparisons to the mysterious Bermuda Triangle. In late 2023, she gave birth to her first calf. Tragically, Bermuda was later spotted swimming alone, leading researchers to assume that the calf did not survive.

Kodama, Right Whale #3960: 16-year-old male
Researchers named this right whale Kodama because his callosities look like tree spirits from the film Princess Mononoke, rooted in Japanese folklore.
Cavatappi, Right Whale #4540: 12-year-old calving female
Researchers named this right whales Cavatappi as her callosity resemblance the corkscrew-shaped cavatappi pasta.
On December 18, 2024, aerial and vessel teams from HDR, Inc. spotted Cavatappi with a calf about seven miles off Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge in southern Virginia. At 12 years old, Cavatappi became a first-time mother this year.
Cavatappi comes from a well-known family lineage. Her mother, Juno (#1612), and her grandmother, Punctuation (#1281), are both experienced mothers who have had many calves over the years. With this new arrival, Cavatappi continues their legacy and is a hopeful sign for the future of the North Atlantic right whale population.

Other new right whales that received names this year include Pencil, Camel, Scorpion, Taffy, and Spectre.
More about right whales
Found off the coasts of Canada and the U.S., North Atlantic right whales are one of the most endangered species on the planet, with approximately 380 individuals left. They were once hunted nearly to extinction and today, their survival is threatened by fishing gear entanglements and ship collisions. Oceana is working hard to protect them. Find out more about our work and how you can help >>
MOST RECENT
November 18, 2025
Celebrating the Ocean Progress We Made Together This Giving Tuesday
