Whales are social mammals that breathe air, feed their young with their own milk, care for them, and teach them life skills. These animals are unique creatures as they live their lives in the water and have many amazing characteristics, sharing many common traits with humans. Below, we will discuss these fascinating creatures and their way of life. Below on the TekeTrek website we will talk more about whales.
Physical Characteristics of Whales
- The skin of whales is usually black, gray, black and white, or entirely white. Some, like the blue whale, have bluish-gray skin.
- The skin surface is smooth, but like other mammals, whales have hair. The hair first appears while the whale fetus is still in its mother’s womb.
- In adult whales, hair is mostly limited to a few strands in the head area and is largely absent in most parts of the body.
- Whales have a thick layer of blubber in their bodies, which insulates the animal from the cold seawater. The blubber also serves as a fat store for nutrition.
- The lower jaw is small and narrow compared to the large upper part of the head.
- Whales have fewer neck vertebrae compared to most mammals, giving the impression that the whale has no neck. This results in a more efficient body shape for forward movement in the aquatic environment.
Fascinating and Strange Facts About Whales
- The blue whale is considered one of the smartest creatures on Earth, with an amazing ability to communicate using its distinctive sound in the oceans.
- Some whale species are among the longest-living organisms on Earth, with large whales living for up to 200 years in some cases.
- Migratory whales travel long distances of thousands of miles in their seasonal journeys in search of food or for mating.
- Some whales consume huge amounts of food daily, like the blue whale which consumes around 3-4 tons of krill every day.
- Whales have complex social lives, with pods consisting of many whales that communicate and cooperate in hunting and mating.
- Some whale species can dive to depths exceeding 3,000 meters in the oceans, staying there for hours before returning to the surface to breathe.
- Whales have sensitive hearing that allows them to sense sound very well, enabling communication over long marine distances using their voices.
- Some whales use a sound called “singing,” a type of complex and melodious sounds they produce during mating seasons, considered one of the most mysterious and attractive sounds in the world of whales.
- The blue whale, the largest whale species, is also among the largest living organisms on Earth, reaching lengths of about 30 meters and weights of about 200 tons.
- Whales maintain their balance in the water by storing oil in their bodies, allowing them to dive and float easily without the need for continuous air supplies like regular fish.
- Whales exhibit long-term care for their young, with mothers and fathers cooperating in raising their offspring and teaching them hunting skills and survival in the marine environment.
How many types of whales are there?
- There are currently about 90 known species of whales, dolphins, and porpoises, collectively known as “cetaceans” or simply “whales.” There are 15 species of baleen whales, 3 sperm whales, 23 beaked whales, 2 toothed whales (narwhals and belugas), 42 dolphins (including 4 river dolphins), and 7 porpoises.
- Cetaceans are generally divided into two groups, depending on whether they have teeth (toothed whales) or baleen (toothless whales).
- Baleen whales, such as the blue whale, are sometimes referred to as “great whales” due to their overall size. There are 15 species of baleen whales in total. These whales have baleen plates in their mouths to filter their food – plankton, krill (small shrimp), and small fish – from the seawater.
- Toothed whales represent all the remaining species of whales, dolphins, and porpoises, and they all have varying numbers of teeth. Toothed whales mainly eat large fish, squid, octopus, and sometimes other marine mammals.
How do whales feed?
- Baleen whales and toothed whales feed in completely different ways. Baleen whales filter their prey from seawater as it flows, or they are forced to pass through their baleen plates using their tongues and sometimes throat muscles. They primarily eat small krill, plankton, and fish.
- It’s worth noting that baleen is made of keratin, the same protein found in our nails and hair, making it sturdy. Hundreds of interlocking baleen plates grow downward from the roof of the whale’s mouth, resembling curtains. The number, size, and color of baleen plates are unique to each whale species.
- All baleen whales primarily feed through filtering, but their feeding techniques vary; humpback whales and blue whales gulp and open their mouths wide, swallowing huge amounts of seawater, and their prey gets trapped between the baleen plates as seawater is pushed out through them.
- Meanwhile, beaked whales and right whales feed on fatty fish with mouths half-open, allowing seawater to flow through the baleen and trapping plankton.
- Grey whales swim on their sides along the ocean floor and suck in mud and water; they use baleen to filter out small crustaceans.
- Toothed whales (and dolphins and porpoises) have teeth, and the number, size, and position of their teeth vary from species to species. They primarily hunt fish, squid, and octopus using their sophisticated sonar systems (echolocation) to locate and target their prey.
- Toothed whales generally use their teeth to grasp and hold onto their prey before swallowing it. Some may also use their teeth to tear and shred their prey.
- Some beaked whales have only two to four teeth, and they primarily feed on squid, believed to suck in and swallow them whole.
Reproduction in Whales
The reproductive process of whales depends on the species, but in general, it involves several steps:
Mating: Mating usually occurs in warm waters and involves selecting a partner and attempting to convince them to mate.
Pregnancy: After mating, the female begins pregnancy, which varies in duration between species but typically lasts between 9 to 18 months, depending on the whale species.
Birth: The whale calf is usually born in warm waters and is immediately able to swim and survive after birth.
Care: Once born, the whale calf receives care from both the mother and sometimes the father, learning survival skills and hunting from them.
Feeding: The whale calf initially feeds on its mother’s milk, gradually learning how to hunt for food on its own and become independent.
Whale Habitats
- Whales inhabit all the open seas worldwide, from the equator to the polar ice.
- Some species prefer deep waters, while others, like humpback whales, live along ocean coasts and sometimes swim near shorelines.
- Some whale species, like the beluga whale, may travel to estuaries and rivers. Some species migrate with the seasons, while others remain in the same area year-round, where they find their preferred food. However, whales have been affected by hunting operations, with a significant number being depleted in parts of the Arctic Ocean and the eastern North Atlantic.
- The blue whale, for instance, was almost completely wiped out in the early 20th century. Nevertheless, some whale species are increasing in numbers today, especially in the polar regions.
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Whale Communication
- Whales, especially humpback whales, produce sounds from another world that can be heard miles away underwater. They produce songs, which are complex arrangements of moans, howls, and cries that can last for hours.
- When whales push air through their heads, they then amplify the sounds through a mass of fat sitting on the upper jaw.
- Researchers believe that whales communicate through calls that they think can be heard thousands of miles away.
Frequently asked questions about whales
- How big is the biggest whale?
The biggest whale is the blue whale, which can reach lengths of approximately 30 meters, or even slightly more in some rare cases.
- Why is Orca called killer whale?
The Orca, or killer whale, earned its name “killer whale” from its formidable hunting prowess and ferocious reputation. Orcas are apex predators, known for hunting a variety of marine animals, including seals, sea lions, fish, and even other whales.
- Is whale a fish or not?
Whales are not fish. They are mammals, belonging to the order Cetacea, which includes whales, dolphins, and porpoises.
- Is there a whale bigger than the blue whale?
As of current scientific knowledge, the blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) holds the title for being the largest animal on Earth. There are no known whale species that consistently grow larger than the blue whale in terms of both length and weight
- How does a whale sleep?
Whales sleep in an unconventional way compared to other creatures. Typically, they continue to surface for breathing and enter short periods of sleep, shutting down half of their brain each time. They can also fully sleep at the surface or while swimming in a behavior called “logging.”
- How long does a whale live?
The lifespan of whales varies significantly depending on the species. For example, the blue whale, considered the largest mammal on Earth, can live for nearly a hundred years. Other whales may live for shorter periods, such as the beluga whale, which can live around 50 years.
- What is the length of the largest whale in the world?
The longest whale in the world is the blue whale, which can reach a length of about 30 meters.
- Is a whale dangerous to humans?
Generally, whales are not dangerous to humans, but they should be approached with caution. In some cases, unintended accidents can occur when whales approach boats or ships, and swimming near them should be avoided for personal safety.
- How long can a whale stay underwater?
Whales can stay underwater for varying periods, typically ranging from 10 to 30 minutes, but some species can stay submerged for longer periods, up to an hour or more.
In conclusion, while the dramatic decline in whale numbers due to hunting has largely ceased, many whale species are still threatened or endangered—including the blue whale, fin whale, and sperm whale—due to a mix of entanglement in fishing nets and ship strikes. It is important to preserve the presence of these creatures in our ecosystem, and there are multiple governmental efforts to do so.
