Many subspecies have darker, often brownish, streaks, and paler underparts or limbs. Adults were darker than the paler and more yellowish younger seals. Adults were darker than the more paler and yellowish younger seals. The gills are pale lilac at first, fading paler. The fin whale's body is long and slender, coloured brownish-grey with a paler underside. The females have much paler plumage especially on the neck and underparts. The female is blackish-brown and paler below. The abdomen is pale with a paler tip. The underparts are paler than the back fur. In general, the paler or darker the color, the sweeter it is. Males furthermore may tend to be somewhat paler in plumage than females. The ear tufts are usually dusky in front and paler tawny on the back. Their soft plumage is a mixture of browns and paler shades. The face and entire body was green, with paler underparts. The immature plumage is sepia-brown above, with a much paler underside than in adults.