Meet North Atlantic right whales Lasagna, Scorpion, Athena and more

Rick Sobey, Boston Herald on Oct 27, 2025

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It’s the annual naming day for the critically endangered North Atlantic right whales.

Scientists at the New England Aquarium have unveiled a new slate of named North Atlantic right whales — a tradition that helps researchers in the field identify the animals in real time.

This year’s whales include Lasagna, Scorpion, Dandelion, Athena and more.

“Whale naming is a fun and lighthearted way to bring the community together,” said Amy Warren, scientific program officer in the New England Aquarium’s Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life, who coordinates the efforts.

“It also allows us to connect with the whales at an individual level, including their habits and relatives,” Warren added.

Every right whale in the North Atlantic Right Whale Catalog has a number assigned to them, and many of these whales have also been given names that help scientists more easily recognize the whales when they see them during field work.

Even for a small population of around 380 individuals, remembering numbers for each whale can be daunting, so names can make it easier. This year, 18 right whales were assigned names.

The naming process involves submissions from North Atlantic Right Whale Consortium members and various research organizations, who then participate in a ranked choice voting system. The names are intended to relate to easily recognizable features or facts about the individual whales.

The 2025 group includes Lasagna, a 20-year-old male named for his wavy fluke blades that look like a lasagna noodle. Another male right whale, Scorpion, was named for his callosity (white patches of raised tissue) that looks like a scorpion with its tail raised.

A 14-year-old female right whale was named Dandelion for her callosity that looks like a dandelion flower with seeds blowing in the wind.

The Aquarium collaborates with Whale and Dolphin Conservation on playful yearbook-style bios for each of the newly named whales. Scorpion’s bio indicates his favorite song is “The Fate of Ophelia” by Taylor Swift because her lyrics mention a “bed full of scorpions.”

“Giving right whales names promotes connection and inspires curiosity,” said Caroline Mowdy, communications specialist at Whale and Dolphin Conservation – North America. “The more connected people feel to whales, the more likely they are to advocate for the ocean and protect the natural world in their community and beyond.”

Other names from this year’s right whale class include a 16-year-old female, Taffy, named for part of her callosity that looks like it’s being stretched across her head like taffy. Spectre received an eerie name just in time for October because of a scar on her back that resembles a ghostly apparition. Her mother is named Ghost.

Another new family name this year is Athena, a 2-year-old female named for the Greek Goddess of War due to her entanglement scars and her mother being named War.

The North Atlantic Right Whale Consortium last week released the latest population estimate for the North Atlantic right whale, which shows the species heading in a positive direction for the fourth straight year. The estimate for 2024 is 384 individuals — a 2.1% increase in population size from the 2023 estimate.

While conservation and management efforts have progressed, the critically endangered species still faces threats including fishing gear entanglements and vessel strikes. Scientists note that strong protection measures are needed to allow the species to rebound.

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