What does the beluga whale eat?

The beluga whale feeds opportunistically on whatever it can find, preying on around 100 different bottom-dwelling animals in the ocean. Some of the foods it eats include flounder, smelt, herring, cod, capelin and other fish. It may also eat sandworms, snails, crab, squid and octopus, among other sea life.

In captivity, beluga whales eat around 4 percent of their body weight each day, which can be up to 60 lbs. of food. The beluga hunts schooling fish, herding them into shallow water and then attacking them in groups of five whales or more. The beluga does not chew its food, but instead swallows its meals whole.