Rare white humpback whale spotted off the Western Australian coast - but is it Migaloo?

  • The 'whitest' humpback ever has been spotted off the coast of Western Australia
  • The white whale was spotted at the weekend by a whale watching group
  • The unique whale was thought to be Migaloo but is a different, two toned whale 

By Emily Pidgeon For Daily Mail Australia

Published: | Updated:

One of the rarest white humpback whales has been spotted off the Western Australian coast.

Posing as the west side's very own Migaloo, a suspected albino humpback whale, the newest white whale caused a fuss at the weekend.

Usually sporting a grey and black back, this white humpback whale was one of the rarest spotted by Whale Watch Western Australia (WWWA).

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A Western Australian whale watching group spotted the whitest whale (pictured) ever at the weekend

A Western Australian whale watching group spotted the whitest whale (pictured) ever at the weekend

The white humpback whale (pictured) was spotted off the coast of Flinders Bay in a pod of other whales

The white humpback whale (pictured) was spotted off the coast of Flinders Bay in a pod of other whales

'This individual yesterday was extremely rare and the whitest humpback we have ever sighted,' WWWA spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia.

'It was very exciting yesterday to see this very special whale.'

While the whale isn't entirely white, WWWA spokeswoman said they named him after a popular biscuit, Oreo.

The unique whale was named Oreo (pictured) after its resemblance to the favourite two toned biscuit

The unique whale was named Oreo (pictured) after its resemblance to the favourite two toned biscuit

Whale watching spokeswoman said his white body colour (pictured) comes from hypo pigmented skin

Whale watching spokeswoman said his white body colour (pictured) comes from hypo pigmented skin

'His face is dark, body white and the top of his fluke is dark which makes him look just like an Oreo biscuit,' she said. 

'(Oreo) has hypo pigmented skin which has resulted in the majority of his body being very white,' she said.

Humpbacks in the southern hemisphere usually have grey or black along their backs with white underbellies, making Oreo a unique sight.

Oreo was mistaken for famous white whale Migaloo (pictured), who is suspected to be an albino humpback whale

Oreo was mistaken for famous white whale Migaloo (pictured), who is suspected to be an albino humpback whale

Oreo (pictured) stood out from the pod because humpback whales generally have grey or black backs

Oreo (pictured) stood out from the pod because humpback whales generally have grey or black backs

Oreo (pictured) sparks similarities to famous albino whale, Migaloo, who is often spotted migrating along the Australia coast

Oreo (pictured) sparks similarities to famous albino whale, Migaloo, who is often spotted migrating along the Australia coast

The white whale, spotted at Flinders Bay 45km south of Margaret River Western Australia, was sighted just days after the first sighting of famous albino whale Migaloo for the season.

Migrating with a pod of other darker coloured whales, WWWA said Oreo was not an albino whale.

Currently thousands of humpback whales are migrating north along the coastlines of Australia.

Oreo (pictured) was spotted just days after the first sighting of Migaloo for the season, creating excitement amoung the Whale Watch Western Australia group

Oreo (pictured) was spotted just days after the first sighting of Migaloo for the season, creating excitement amoung the Whale Watch Western Australia group

 

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