Information and Facts
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Facts about Whales, Blue Whales, Beluga Whales, Humpback
Whales.
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Introduction to Whales
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Top Facts about Whales 2. Whales breathe air. Read more Facts about Whales... |
Whales belong to the order cetacea, which means that they are mammals fully adapted to aquatic life. Like all cetaceans, including dolphins and porpoises, whales are descendants of land-living animals which returned to water after living millions of years in land.
Most whales can grow to be extremely large. In fact, the Blue Whale is considered to be the largest animal in the world.
Whales are closely related to dolphins and porpoises.
There are two types of whales that are identified by scientists, baleen whales and toothed whales, having each of these categories many sub species.
You can easily identify which category a whale
belongs based on its feeding and physical
characteristics.Whale InformationWhales have their own hierarchy in their groups that is very closely followed. They are excellent parents to their offspring and they are able to communicate with a variety of sounds. If you get the chance to closely observe whales you will quickly understand how they value their relationships with each other.
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Whale Species |
Many people confuse whales with dolphins, and what is even more complicated with that is that they really are in many ways. Yet the words dolphins and whales are used to separate the classes based on size and physical characteristics.
Another creature that whales are closely related to is the Hippopotamus. It is believed that both of them evolved from a similar species more than 50 million years ago. The history that leads to those conclusions is something you may find interesting enough to explore in more detail later on.
Types of Whales
Baleen Whales
Baleen Whales make up the majority of them. They have a sieve structure in the jaw area that allows them to easily filter food out of water.- Toothed Whales
Toothed Whales are carnivorous and as their name implies they have teeth that allow them to easily hunt their prey.
For greater detail, check: Baleen Whales VS. Toothed Whales
Another way you can tell them apart is by the number of blowholes a whale have. All Baleen Whales have two blowholes, while all Toothed Whales only have one blowhole.
Whale Breaching. Image courtesy of NOAA. |
There are quite a few species of whales out there to take a closer look at. You will find plenty of unique features and characteristics within such groups.
If you are fascinated with this type of creature then you should take the time to do more research. You will find them to be very intelligent and interesting to learn about.
The best known species of whales are the one in the box left. Select any to get further information.
Humans and Whales
You will also discover that the future for whales is one that could be in jeopardy. This is due to the continual destruction of their living areas. As waste is allowed to pollute the waters that they live in they will become less populated. They also have to move to new locations when their own food sources move on. As a result they are more likely to get caught up in fixing nets and even hit by boats in the waters.Many types of whales are hunted in some parts of the world as well. This has become quite a popular sport due to the magnificent size of these creates. In other areas the hunting of whales is done in order to provide a food supply for the people in that area. Due to a combination of these scenarios, many species of whales are endangered. Therefore if actions aren’t taken to protect them and their natural environment they may one day no longer exist. This will definitely upset the natural balance of things the waters.
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Whale Information |
Frequently Asked Questions about Whales
- Why do Whales Sing
There is a traditional explanation which attributes whale singing to male whales as a way to seduce female whales while looking to reproduce.
- How do Whales Communicate with each Other
It is believed that whales use sound for echolocation, a sonar-like capability that allow whales to locate dangers and other animals.
- Do Whales Really Sing
Some baleen whales, particularly humpback whales and blue whales, produce a melodic sound known as a whale song.
- How Long do Whales Live
Some whales have a lifespan similar to humans, particularly the blue and the fin whales as they reach up to 85 years old.
- What is a Group of Whales Called
A group o whales is commonly called a pod, a school or a gam.
- How Much does a Blue Whale Weigh
Blue whales are the largest animal who have ever lived on earth, even much larger than the largest dinosaur known.
- How do Whales Talk
There are two suborders of whales, baleen whales and toothed whales and they differ not only in their feeding habits, but also in the way they talk to each other.
- What is the Largest Whale
The largest whale is the blue whale.
- What is the Smallest Whale
The dwarf sperm whale is the smallest whale.
- How Big is a Sperm Whale
An adult sperm whale is between 11 and 15 meters long and can weight between 20 and 45 tonnes.
- Why do Whales Migrate
During the warm season, whales migrate to cold waters where food is abundant. When the weather becomes colder, the food start to scarce and whales migrate to warmer water for mating and breeding.
- What is a Male Whale Called
The male whale is called a bull
- Where do Humpback Whales Live
Humpback whales live in both hemispheres making them to cross over the other side of the world during the feeding and breeding seasons. They migrate over 25,000 kilometers each year.
- How do Whales Reproduce
Like most mammals, whale calves are nourished in the womb of the mothers through an umbilical cord and they grow inside the mother until they are ready to perform some basic actions, as swimming, that will help them survive outside their mothers.
- Why are Humpback Whales Endangered
By 18th century, the commercial value of humpback whales increased and that made them a preferred target for hunters.
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