Gray Whale Description
Compared to most baleen whales, gray whales are rather small, growing to be only about 45 feet long. They are easy to see with their gray  color, which is actually more charcoal black than it is gray. Gray whales have lots of barnacles and lice on their skin. However, scientists say the lice and barnacles do not harm the whale, and it is possible they may actually 'help' the whale by feeding off of dead skin, which the whale needs to get rid of.