Interesting Whales Facts: Anatomy And Behaviors
Written by: Andrew Keet
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Word Count: 385 |
Date: Sat, 22 Aug 2009 |
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The whale is a magnificent creature. Who is not intrigued by one of the largest and most intelligent creatures in the sea? Here are a few interesting whales facts you may not have known.
Whales are aquatic mammals that are in the Cetacean family. This includes dolphins and porpoises as well. They are actually the only mammals besides manatees to live their entire lives completely in the water. Their heart has four chambers, and they give live birth to their young. There are over 75 species. The blue whale is the largest animal earth has ever seen at an average of 94 feet in length. The smallest is the dwarf sperm whale.
Two groups of classification make up the Cetacean family. They are either toothed or baleen. There are about 66 toothed varieties. They have peg-like teeth that basically spear their prey, which they will then eat whole. They locate their food source through the use of echolocation. The baleen variety has a comb-like feature that simply acts as a filter. They gather food like krill as they swim along. There are 10 species of this variety.
This amazing creature has some very unique behaviors. Breaching involves acrobatic jumps out of the water for play. They also spy hop, poking their heads out of the water to have a look around. Lobtailing is when the animal sticks its tail out of the sea and then slaps the water to make a loud noise as a warning. A whale will also rest by logging, meaning they float on the surface with their blowhole up.
Do you know what the whale is best known for? It is not necessarily its size but its beautiful songs. They are spectacular singers, albeit loud! The singing can often be quite long and complex. It is not uncommon for a blue to sing for up to an hour. The music ranges from clicks and whistles to lower frequencies. They use this as a means of communication, for finding mates, and even for expressing excitement or grief.
It is truly one of the most magnificent animals on the earth today. Their beauty, size, and behaviors give us a sense of admiration for them. Hopefully these whales facts have enlightened you more about these gentle sea creatures.
About the Author
Andrew Keet has been living on the East Coast of South Africa for nearly fifty years during which time he has spend a great amount of time watching whales and gathering whale facts.
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