Whales Smithsonian Ocean

Whales

When we think of whales, we immediately think of giant whales that use their upper jaws to filter tiny plankton from the seawater (such as the right whale in the photo above). However, cetaceans also include dolphins, seals, and other toothed whales, with a total of more than 80 species. Cetaceans live in oceans around the world and in freshwater rivers. Baleen whales (Mysticeti) and toothed whales (Odontoceti) share a common (and perhaps surprising) ancestor, although their feeding habits and size vary greatly. On this page, we will generally refer to all cetaceans as whales, and in some cases, we will clarify when referring to toothed whales, whales, or characteristics or behaviors unique to a particular species.

Whale sighs and dolphin cries remind us of our human conversations. We sent whale songs into space with Voyager 1 and 2, inscribing them on golden records for other civilizations to decipher. We know cetaceans are intelligent, but there is still much to learn about how they think and communicate. Their long migration routes and deep dives make it difficult to find whales. Despite the popularity of whale watching and the long-term interest in whale conservation, even basic questions like how many whales there are are hard to answer.

Are You An Educator?

At Smithsonian Oceans, we have lesson plans, activities, and resources to help students immerse themselves in the wonders of the ocean.

Anatomy, Diversity & Evolution

Anatomy & Physiology

What Makes a Whale a Whale?

Whales are mammals. That means, like humans and other land mammals, they have three bones and inner ear hairs, they breathe air, and females secrete milk from mammary glands to raise their young. While mammals usually have hair to keep them warm, cetaceans have an insulating fat called blubber, so they are often born with very little hair, which falls out as they grow. They also share other characteristics with land mammals, but have evolved many features that allow them to live well in the water.

Body Structure

A right whale fluke called Phoenix, photographed in 2004 (New England Aquarium, photographer Tim Frasier)

Whales have a large body, but the body is streamlined to swim efficiently. Frook moves vertically through the water (usually different from fish that moves the tail horizontally). The fins (or chest fins) have changed to the elbow joints fixed, mainly used for steering, and their fleuk is useful for propulsion. The back fin is used to maintain stability and has no support like bones.

Whales can survive in the deep and frozen seas of the polar land because the subcutaneous fat layer, called grease, covers the whole body. The grease is much thicker than the fat seen in other mammals. The greaths are dense than wetsuits for marine swimming, which are similar to wetsuits used for surfing and diving, giving buoyancy to animals and helping to float. The thickness of the giangle is considerably wide, and varies depending on the type of 2 inches or more depending on the type. However, just because the grease is thick does not necessarily mean that the animal has high cold protection. The main purpose is to store food in the animal until the winter when food is deficient.

Large species have a higher surface area of the skin than the size of the body, so the heat retention is high. Small species are kept warm using a high metabolism and a heat exchange system in which the blood vessels of fins and fins reflux. With this heat replacement, the cold blood of the limbs moves directly from the animal's trunk to the veins along the artery that carries warm blood from the animal trunk without being deprived of the animal skin surface. In addition, when the animal is in cold water, blood vessels can be contracted, reducing the amount of energy required to maintain heat by sending blood throughout the circulatory system.

In addition to the big body, whales have a large brain. Whales are now boasting the largest absolute brain on the earth. The ratio of the brain and the body is also important, and only humans have a greater ratio of brain and body size than whales. As a result, marine dolphins, including Orca, have the ability to form complicated behavior and society. Whale is large, but the body is streamlined to swim efficiently. Frook moves vertically through the water (usually different from fish that moves the tail horizontally). The fins (or chest fins) have changed to the elbow joints fixed, mainly used for steering, and their fleuk is useful for propulsion. The back fin is used to maintain stability and has no support like bones.

Breathing

Large species have a higher surface area of the skin than the size of the body, so the heat retention is high. Small species are kept warm using a high metabolism and a heat exchange system in which the blood vessels of fins and fins reflux. With this heat replacement, the cold blood of the limbs moves directly from the animal trunk to the veins along the artery that carries warm blood from the animal trunk without being deprived of the animal skin surface. In addition, when the animal is in cold water, blood vessels can be contracted, reducing the amount of energy required to maintain heat by sending blood throughout the circulatory system.

In addition to the big body, whales have a large brain. Whales are now boasting the largest absolute brain on the earth. The ratio of the brain and the body is also important, and only humans have a greater ratio of brain and body size than whales. As a result, marine dolphins, including Orca, have the ability to form complicated behavior and society. Whales have a large body, but the body is streamlined to swim efficiently. Frook moves vertically through the water (usually different from fish that moves the tail horizontally). The fins (or chest fins) have changed to the elbow joints fixed, mainly used for steering, and their fleuk is useful for propulsion. The back fin is used to maintain stability and has no support like bones.

Whales can survive in the deep and frozen seas of the polar land because the subcutaneous fat layer, called grease, covers the whole body. Gipids are much thicker than fat found in other mammals. The greaths are dense than wetsuits for marine swimming, which are similar to wetsuits used for surfing and diving, giving buoyancy to animals and helping to float. The thickness of the giangle is considerably wide, and varies depending on the type of 2 inches or more depending on the type. However, just because the grease is thick does not necessarily mean that the animal has high cold protection. The main purpose is to store food in the animal until the winter when food is deficient.

Adapting to Water

Large species have a higher surface area of the skin than the size of the body, so the heat retention is high. Small species are kept warm using a high metabolism and a heat exchange system in which the blood vessels of fins and fins reflux. With this heat replacement, the cold blood of the limbs moves directly from the animal trunk to the veins along the artery that carries warm blood from the animal trunk without being deprived of the animal skin surface. In addition, when the animal is in cold water, blood vessels can be contracted, reducing the amount of energy required to maintain heat by sending blood to the entire circulation system.

In addition to the big body, whales have a large brain. Whales are now boasting the largest absolute brain on the earth. The ratio of the size of the brain and the body is also important, and only humans are larger than whales with the ratio of the brain and body. As a result, marine dolphins, including Orca, have the ability to form complicated behavior and society.

Sleeping While Swimming

Both humpback and toothed whales breathe through a bladder, the whale's version of a nostril. It is an orifice that forms at the surface when warm air expelled by the whale meets cooler air at the surface and condenses into tiny droplets. (Andrew Russell, Flickr)

Both humpback and toothed whales breathe through a bladder (the whale's version of a nostril). It is located at the top of their head and is connected to their lungs. Cetaceans only eat through their mouths, which are not connected to their lungs, reducing the chance of water getting into their lungs and drowning while eating. Whales in a group called Mysticeti (baleen whales) have two openings, while toothed whales (Odontoceti) have only one. Unlike humans, who breathe automatically, whales can actively control when they breathe. Cetaceans have specific control over the muscles that close the blower passages, called nasal plugs.

Senses

The exchange of air from the bellows to the surface is very fast, taking only a fraction of a second between exhaling and inhaling to fill the lungs with air. Usually, whales take several breaths before diving again, and then can remain underwater for a period of time (usually 5-15 minutes). Sperm whales and beaked whales (both species of toothed whales) can stay underwater for as long as an hour before surfacing for their next breath.

The mouth that appears at the surface is created when the warm air expelled by the whale meets the cool air at the surface and condenses into tiny droplets. These orifices vary between groups and species because of the different shapes formed by one or two holes, as well as the shape of the blow and the size of the animal. Biologists and recreational whale watchers can identify whale species from a distance by looking at their beaks.

The pulmonary whales can store 1. 300 gallon (about 1. 6 liters) air, so whales can swim for a long time without floating for breathing. However, their respiratory and cardiovascular systems are much more efficient than land mammals. Humans can only absorb 15 to 20 % of oxygen inhaled in one breath, but whales jump to more than 80 % depending on blood components. Whale and whale are dive, reducing heart rate and increasing the number of myoglobin molecules in the blood, so oxygen can be taken more efficiently. Whales can hold a lot of meglobin because the surface of the blood cells has a special "ant i-adhesive" ability that does not stick to blood flow. In addition, the improvement of the body also reduces the amount of oxygen required.

Despite the need to emerge for breathing regularly, whales can dive to a considerable depth. Orca usually has a dive time of 1 minute to 5 minutes, but it can still reach the depth of 300 feet (100 meters). Makko whales dive for more than an hour and can exceed 6, 000 feet (1, 828 meters). This is equivalent to the height of the Empire State Building. This is equivalent to the height of the Empire State Building, which is a dive of 16 soccer fields. Makko whales, whales, and chicken whales are all divers that dive in the deep sea, with some kind of adaptation so that you can apply a high level of pressure to the lungs, nasal cavity, and other air. There is. Whales do not breathe in the dive (consuming oxygen from blood), so when pressure increases, the lungs collapse, nitrogen in the blood flow decreases, and dangerous air bubbles (SCUBA divers (SCUBA divers) (SCUBA diver)). There is a danger that it can be called a diving disease). It can also block blood flow to the limbs so that blood containing oxygen from heart or heart rate does not flow into the limbs. The pulmonary activity of the shirona gas whales can store 1. 300 gallon (about 1. 6 liters) air, so whales can swim for a long time without rising for breathing. However, their respiratory and cardiovascular systems are much more efficient than land mammals. Humans can only absorb 15 to 20 % of oxygen inhaled in one breath, but whales jump to more than 80 % depending on blood components. Whale and whale are dive, reducing heart rate and increasing the number of myoglobin molecules in the blood, so oxygen can be taken more efficiently. Whales can hold a lot of meglobin because the surface of the blood cells has a special "ant i-adhesive" ability that does not stick to blood flow. In addition, the improvement of the body also reduces the amount of oxygen required.

Despite the need to emerge for breathing regularly, whales can dive to a considerable depth. Orca usually has a dive time of 1 minute to 5 minutes, but it can still reach the depth of 300 feet (100 meters). Makko whales dive for more than an hour and can exceed 6, 000 feet (1, 828 meters). This is equivalent to the height of the Empire State Building. This is equivalent to the height of the Empire State Building, which is a dive of 16 soccer fields. Makko whales, whales, and chicken whales are all divers that dive in the deep sea, with some kind of adaptation so that you can apply a high level of pressure to the lungs, nasal cavity, and other air. There is. Whales do not breathe in the dive (consuming oxygen from blood), so when pressure increases, the lungs collapse, nitrogen in the blood flow decreases, and dangerous air bubbles (SCUBA divers (SCUBA divers) (SCUBA diver)). There is a danger that it can be called a diving disease). It can also block blood flow to the limbs so that blood containing oxygen from heart or heart rate does not flow into the limbs. The pulmonary whales can store 1. 300 gallon (about 1. 6 liters) air, so whales can swim for a long time without floating for breathing. However, their respiratory and cardiovascular systems are much more efficient than land mammals. Humans can only absorb 15 to 20 % of oxygen inhaled in one breath, but whales jump to more than 80 % depending on blood components. Whale and whale are dive, reducing heart rate and increasing the number of myoglobin molecules in the blood, so oxygen can be taken more efficiently. Whales can hold a lot of meglobin because the surface of the blood cells has a special "ant i-adhesive" ability that does not stick to blood flow. In addition, the improvement of the body also reduces the amount of oxygen required.

How do whales and dolphins sleep while swimming? Whales and dolphins have some mechanisms to keep water from entering their air bubbles when they are asleep (see the section on drinking and breathing). However, whales cannot completely shut down and sleep because they must consciously come to the surface to breathe. Dolphins shut down half of their brain for a short time and keep swimming and breathing while using the other hemisphere to watch for danger (literally, one eye is always open!). Whales alternate sides for about 8 hours until they are completely asleep. Whales also rest semi-consciously, either vertically or horizontally, usually in groups. Recording behavior is the resting state of whales and dolphins when they are at the surface. They are motionless, like floating journals. (For more on cetacean vision and hearing, see the section on behavior.) Sound and hearing production Like other mammals, all whales can make sounds using an organ in their neck called the larynx. In the case of baleen whales, there is a special larynx called a U-shaped larynx between the vent and the lungs, which connects directly to a unique expandable pouch inside the whale's chest. When a whale "speaks", air flows from the lungs through the U-shaped larynx and fills the pouch. This system allows whales to produce sounds loud enough to travel thousands of kilometers. Whales can also sing when they return air from the pouch to their lungs, a process that reuses air and eliminates the need to exhale.

Hearing involves vibration and the perception of underwater sounds. The vibrations vibrate not only the membranes of the ear, but the entire skull. Because of this, underwater sounds are altered in humans too. Over millions of years, whales have evolved to float the bones of the middle and inner ear separately from the skull as a way to hear more clearly. The bones of the ear with the middle ear are actually separate from the skull and are housed in a floating chamber in the skull that surrounds the bones of the ear. Hearing is important for both whales and toothed whales, but the mechanisms for picking up and interpreting sounds may be different.

Credit: Courtesy of Kait Frasier

Like dolphins, whales also send hig h-frequency sound wave pulse to the water, work like a sonarpin, and find prey in the dark sea in the deep sea. Since each species disseminates the unique frequency, scientists can track the species using a sound recorder such as hydropon. Listen to the voice sample above.

Mahahaes receive hig h-frequency sounds through special "acoustic lipids" connected to the inner ear along the lower jaw. They use the ec o-ocation (biological sonar) to "see" the object. Salvation can expand the repertoire of the sound to a high frequency by the airbag of the nose and the thick melon on the forehead. When the air passes through the nasal cavity, the small fat binters vibrates and makes a noise. This sound will then pass through the melon, but this melon will probably play a role like a acoustic lens and concentrate the sound and its direction. Whales can make various sounds by changing the shape of the melon. In this way, the complexity can be added to the hig h-frequency sound used in the ec o-ocation. The shale hears the response of this sound through the fat body inside the lower jaw. Fat conveys the hig h-frequency sound to the ear bones, the large whale of the whale can handle it and see the world and the object in it through sound.

An unknown beauty of the National Museum of Natural History. The light and dark layer is due to the accumulation of keratin and lipids, and can be used to estimate the age of whales. (Megan Chen, National Natural History Museum)

Whale whales are specialized in listening to lo w-frequency sounds for lon g-distance communication. It has a fat tissue that seems to be important for hearing, but the specific mechanism is not well understood. Smilesonian scientists are investigating how the two groups have come to have such different hearing.

In all whales, the earwake is connected with densely earwax, and this earwax shows the history of whale life. Unlike most mammals, whales have no ears. Like the

Diversity

Toothed versus Baleen Whales

Physics of light controls the work of vision. On Earth, where there is a lot of light, people see the world with the help of three specific color receptors. But under water the light is filtered, and at large depths, many wavelengths are lost, so that colors lose their brightness, completely disappearing at great depths. Whales, adapting to such an environment, have only one color receptor - they see in shades of gray, which allows them to see better in low light, and they have large pupils to skip as much light as possible. However, the dark waters of the Ganges were too dark for river dolphins living there. Over time, they completely lost their eyesight - it is believed that in the absence of a flashlight, they still use their eyes to perceive light - and they rely on echolocation for navigation and hunting.

The clos e-up of the eye of a gray whale.

クジラはまた、水中でもよく見えるよう目の形を変えてきた。人間含む陸上動物は、屈折とれる性質（異なる物質を通過際際にする）を利用し、L 目の透明な外側の層）焦点を合わせている。光は空気中通り、眼球に入るとし、水晶体の助け借り網膜上に焦点合っ合っ像を " 液と水が非常によく似いるため、陸上動物は長くなる。光十分に曲がらず、は効果的に焦点をないこれを補う、クジラはピントをせるのにレンズだけだけにだけだけだけだけだけだけだけ HI 頼っている。クジラのはピントを合わせやすいよう円形をしているが、私たちクジラのレンズは少し平たくなっいる。。。。いるいる

クジラの視覚は、頭のににつずつつずつがあるため、、 2 つの異なる視野をことになるイルカイルカシロイルカなど、顔の形細長種の中には、で見るがががががことがことががことがががことことがこと HI できるものもいる。

大西洋セミクジラ（eubalaena glacialis）大きい。その区別はシロナ（（balaenoptera musculus）ある（スミソニアン））。。。）））））））））））））））））））））））

オドントセテス

Among the existing whales, the largest number of whales is OdontoCeti. More than 70 kinds of whales inhability from cold sea in the Arctic to tropical sea. Malathaches include dolphins, rimmira, large whales, whale whales, and kawayuka. In addition, this group also contains some extinct systems, and they represent various types of extinct mahahaes, and they are still extinct on their own. Some represent the group.

Maletle whale male who eats food near the surface of the water. (© NATHALIE JAQUET)

Makko Whale (PhySeter Macrocephalus) is the largest of the legal whales, reaching 66 feet (20 meters). Vacoena Sinus, Cephalorhynchus Hectori, and Cephalhynchus Hectori Maui are one of the smallest wreckage and are less than about 1. 5 m. The monodon monoceros is known for a long tusk like a unicorn beast whose fangs have changed. It is the closest to the same whale, Delphinapterus Leucas.

There are nearly 40 colleagues in the Siloylukan family, and some scholars think that they are a little lucky bag. These are ocean dolphins, and this description is to call a killer whale (Globicephala Spp. Chibashi) Orca is the biggest friend of the dolphin.

The seal belongs to the Funa Clownfish, and there are six types of friends. The seals of the seals are sturdy than the dolphin, the beak is shorter, and the dorsal fin is triangular. Among the existing whales, the largest number of whales (OdontoCeti). More than 70 kinds of whales inhability from cold sea in the Arctic to tropical sea. Malathaches include dolphins, rimmira, large whales, whale whales, and kawayuka. In addition, this group also contains some extinct systems, and they represent various types of extinct mahahaes, and they are still extinct on their own. Some represent the group.

Maletle whale male who eats food near the surface of the water. (© NATHALIE JAQUET)

Evolution

A Move to the Sea

The seal belongs to the Funa Clownfish, and there are six types of friends. The seals of the seals are sturdy than the dolphin, the beak is shorter, and the dorsal fin is triangular. Among the existing whales, the largest number of whales is OdontoCeti. More than 70 kinds of whales inhability from cold sea in the Arctic to tropical sea. Malathaches include dolphins, rimmira, large whales, whale whales, and kawayuka. In addition, this group also contains some extinct systems, and they represent various types of extinct mahahaes, and they are still extinct on their own. Some represent the group.

Maletle whale male who eats food near the surface of the water. (© NATHALIE JAQUET)

Follow the Food

The seal belongs to the Funa Clownfish, and there are six types of friends. The seals of the seals are sturdy than the dolphin, the beak is shorter, and the dorsal fin is triangular.

Ecology

Distribution

Makko whales, mackerel whales, Kogia Breviceps, and Himemakko whale (KOGIA SIMA) form a group called PHYSETEROIDEA. In the head of the main whales of Koshina, you can see Makko whale, which is used for communication and acquisition (see the echocolocation and communication section for details). Matdle whale male is the largest among the legal whales, reaching 60 feet in total, but female only 36 feet. The phenomenon with a large male and female physique is called gender type, and many whales have such a difference in male and female physique.

Kubiregondou (Ziphius Cavirostris) and Berardius Bairdii can dive to a depth of 1, 000 meters or more.

Mistyketty

The whale that causes filter feeding belongs to the Misticheti. The group currently has only 14 types of whales belonging to four departments. The largest species are the Balaenopteridae, which contains the largest vertebrate (Balaenoptera Musculus). Sirona gas whales can reach a length of 30 meters (98 feet) or more and weighs more than 190 tons. The sem i-wisdom includes the North Atlantic SemiLis, the nearby species of the North Pacific Sem i-Japonica, and the Eubalaena Australis. In addition, there are mysterious pygmy light whales (Caperea Marginata) and Eschrichtius Robustus, which are currently inhabiting only in the Southern Ocean. The whale whale is only about 20 feet in length and is the smallest whale.

Population Size

In August 2004, Phoenix (Allied Whale, College of the Atlantic)

Generally, the whale lives in the sea around the world, and the beard in the mouth is named after filtering food from a large seawater huge (see the caterpillar). Females tend to be larger than male of the same species, which is also an example of sexual type.

Scientists understand how whales we know today have evolved in the past 50 million years since the whale we know today has inhabited the earth. It is useful. The first whale fossils, such as Paketus, are about 50 million years ago in the Southern Asian region, which is part of the current Pakistan and India, on the river and the estuary to get fish. I was. Between 5 million and 10 million years, the first whale diversified to extinct generations, and conducted various types of experiments specializing in living in water. A kind of crocodile was like the current crocodile, and some species looked like sea lions and otters. Seeds like Mysetus were probably covered with a net, and were able to move underwater with a powerful tail.

Breeding

Smilesonian Museum

Respiratory nostrils near the legs, the front of the nose, and various sizes (not a bal l-shaped or slightly larger tooth like a modern whale). Approximately 40 million years ago, early whales, such as Maia Setus and Pelegochots (recently listed mink whales) found in Peru, had their hind limb to support their weight. These fossils remain with ankle bone, which contains bones called astragarus, which has a double ditch structure, such as cows, camels, pigs, deer, and hippos.

Approximately 40 million years ago, the first complete aquatic whale, such as Basilosaurus, appeared. These whales had a short hind limb that could not support their weight on land, and the fins had an elbow joint. The small hind limb indicates that Bashiro Saurus was connected to the land pioneers, but the inner ears are more similar to modern whales. The current whale still has traces of ancient land ancestors. The small remnants of the hind limb bones are left on the waist. Basilosaurus fossils were found in the United States in the 1840s, and Smisonian announced the early whale specimen in the late 19th century. Basilosaurus's complete skeletal specimen can now be seen in Santo Ocean Hall.

This family tree indicates that whale's ancestors have gradually moved from land to sea. (Mary Palish / Smithsonian Museum) Whale's fossil record is how the whales we know today have evolved in the past 50 million years since the first whale inhabits the earth. It is helpful for scientists to understand whether they have done. The first whale fossils, such as Paketus, are about 50 million years ago in the Southern Asian region, which is part of the current Pakistan and India, on the river and the estuary to get fish. I was. Between 5 million and 10 million years, the first whale diversified to extinct generations, and conducted various types of experiments specializing in living in water. A kind of crocodile was like the current crocodile, and some species looked like sea lions and otters. Seeds like Mysetus were probably covered with a net, and were able to move underwater with a powerful tail.

Life-span

Smilesonian Museum

Behavior

Communication

About 40 million years ago, the first complete aquatic whale, such as Basilosaurus, appeared. These whales had a short hind limb that could not support their weight on land, and the fins had an elbow joint. The small hind limb indicates that Bashiro Saurus was connected to the land pioneers, but the inner ears are more similar to modern whales. The current whale still has traces of ancient land ancestors. The small remnants of the hind limb bones are left on the waist. Basilosaurus fossils were found in the United States in the 1840s, and Smisonian announced the early whale specimen in the late 19th century. Basilosaurus's complete skeletal specimen can now be seen in Santo Ocean Hall.

This family tree indicates that whale's ancestors have gradually moved from land to sea. (Mary Palish / Smithsonian Museum) Whale records are how the whales we know today have evolved in the past 50 million years since the first whale inhabits the earth. It is helpful for scientists to understand. The first whale fossils, such as Paketus, are about 50 million years ago in the Southern Asian region, which is part of the current Pakistan and India, on the river and the estuary to get fish. I was. Between 5 million and 10 million years, the first whale diversified to extinct generations, and conducted various types of experiments specializing in living in water. A kind of crocodile was like the current crocodile, and some species looked like sea lions and otters. Seeds like Mysetus were probably covered with a net, and were able to move underwater with a powerful tail.

Smilesonian Museum

Getting Social

This family tree indicates that whale's ancestors have gradually moved from land to sea. (Mary Parish / Smithsonian Museum)

But why did these land animals move into the water? Since the disappearance of large marine reptiles in the Cretaceous-Pallenian event at the end of the Cretaceous, the oceans were devoid of any significant predators (except sharks). This allowed mammals, including the first marine whales of the Eocene, to evolve and take advantage of new opportunities, such as the oceans, where food was abundant. Similarly, the first whales may have been pressured by other predators on land, or may have returned to the sea for reasons we cannot fully examine.

By the end of the Eocene, the first four-legged whales had disappeared, and the descendants of the first fully aquatic whales, such as killer whales, diverged into the two main groups of whales seen today: mysticetes and toothed whales. The archaic mysticetes did not have baleen whales and were probably not filter feeders. The oldest known mysticetes fossil, Mystacodon selenensis from Peru, lived about 36 million years ago. (The oldest toothed whale fossil is Simocetus leii from Oregon, housed in the NMNH's paleontology department and dating to about 33 million years ago.) In 2018, researchers at NMNH and other institutions described Maiabalaena Nesbittae, a mysterious whale fossil that didn't eat teeth or balls, but probably sucked prey into its mouth like other toothed whales, such as beaked whales, do today. Overall, the ancestors of today's mysticetes and odontocetes were smaller than the very large size of some of today's species.

Right whales migrating seasonally along the east coast of the United States. (Graphic by E. Paul Oberlander, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, with data from the North Atlantic Right Whale Consortium.)

From shallow to deep sea, from cold streams to warm current, from polar to poles, and in the meantime, whales are everywhere in the sea. There is even a whale that lives in the freshwater ecosystem. Some whales do long migration as needed. Many whales move to warm waters to mate and give birth in winter, and in summer, they move to a cold and cold sea area. These whales swim tens of miles in a few months, move at a speed of about 10 miles, and are even lower when they eat food. Dolphins and other legumes are also migrating, but the distance tends to be shorter than large whales. But not all whales travel. Balaenoptera Brydei only inhabits tropical waters, and the endangered Vakita lives in the northern part of California.

At the Surface

Whales are large, so it is easy to think that it is easy to track that movement, but it is surprisingly difficult. Some species know the movement pattern, but some species are still untouched. For example, Minami Semijira breeds in South Africa, Australia, and warm tropical waters off the coast of South America, and breastfeeds for newborn whales, but scientists have not said that the winter feeding grounds are clear.

Some dolphins and Kamilka live in a place near the shore. Two of the three types of bands, Tursiops Aduncus and Camile Maka, tend to spend most of the time on coastal habitat near the coast. However, the band virker (known to many people in the TURSIOPS TRUNCATUS, the television program "Flipper") is seen as two different individuals spent offshore or near the coast. Many dolphins that live along the coast tend to be small and light in color. PHOCOENA PHOCOENA lives in coastal waters and can see swimming in shallow ports and bays. Dolphins and rimmira move to warm sea areas when faced with low temperature, but do not move long distances like large whales. From shallow waters to deep sea, from cold stream to warm current, from polar to pole, and in the meantime, whales are all over the sea. There is even a whale that lives in the freshwater ecosystem. Some whales do long migration as needed. Many whales move to warm waters to mate and give birth in winter, and in summer, they move to a cold and cold sea area. These whales swim tens of miles in a few months, move at a speed of about 10 miles, and are even lower when they eat food. Dolphins and other legumes are also migrating, but their distance tends to be shorter than large whales. But not all whales travel. Balaenoptera Brydei only inhabits tropical waters, and the endangered Vakita lives in the northern part of California.

Whales are large, so it is easy to think that it is easy to track that movement, but it is surprisingly difficult. Some species know the movement pattern, but some species are still inseparable. For example, Minami Semijira breeds in South Africa, Australia, and warm tropical waters off the coast of South America, and breastfeeds for newborn whales, but scientists have not said that the winter feeding grounds are clear.

Some dolphins and Kamilka live in a place near the shore. Two of the three types of bands, Tursiops Aduncus and Camile Maka, tend to spend most of the time on coastal habitat near the coast. However, the band virker (known to many people in the TURSIOPS TRUNCATUS, the television program "Flipper") is seen as two different individuals spent offshore or near the coast. Many dolphins that live along the coast tend to be small and light in color. PHOCOENA PHOCOENA lives in coastal waters and can see swimming in shallow ports and bays. Dolphins and rimmira move to warm sea areas when faced with low temperature, but do not move long distances like large whales. From shallow to deep sea, from cold streams to warm current, from polar to poles, and in the meantime, whales are everywhere in the sea. There is even a whale that lives in the freshwater ecosystem. Some whales do long migration as needed. Many whales move to warm waters to mate and give birth in winter, and in summer, they move to a cold and cold sea area. These whales swim tens of miles in a few months, move at a speed of about 10 miles, and get even lower when they eat food. Dolphins and other legumes are also migrating, but the distance tends to be shorter than large whales. But not all whales travel. Balaenoptera Brydei only inhabits tropical waters, and the endangered Vakita lives in the northern part of California.

In the Food Web

Feeding Mechanisms

Some dolphins and Kamilka live in a place near the shore. Of the three bands of bands, two types, TURSIOPS ADUNCUS and TURSIOPS Australis, tend to spend most of the time in coastal habitat near the coast. However, the band virker (known to many people in the TURSIOPS TRUNCATUS, the television program "Flipper") is seen as two different individuals spent offshore or near the coast. Many dolphins that live along the coast tend to be small and light in color. PHOCOENA PHOCOENA lives in coastal waters and can see swimming in shallow ports and bays. Dolphins and rimmira move to warm sea areas when faced with low temperature, but do not move long distances like large whales.

It is difficult but important for scientists to see how many whales in our sea are currently for each whale or the number of individuals. Understanding how many whales are currently there is not only useful for protection and management, but the trends in the number of individuals occur over time, such as decreasing and increasing population. It is also important to establish an accurate baseline. Scientists rely on several methods to measure the current population of whales. The international whaling committee, an internationally recognized organization that regulates whaling and organizes scientific arguments on whales protection, has set an estimated number of individuals from visual visuals from ships and airplanes. It can also be estimated using underwater sound records, mark capture methods (Mark and recapture), and individual identification methods based on signs and scars. It is difficult to investigate the seeds that live in the ocean, not the coastal ecosystem, so it is not well known about the history of life and the number of individuals. For example, we spend a lot of time in the cold deep sea, and we have little to know about whales that have little signs to find it.

Dr. Moira Brown and Yang Gilbow, a researcher at the New England Aquarium, conducted an air survey of the Atlantic Sem i-Way on the Roseway basin in Canada. (Provided: New England Aquarium)

Not only is the current estimation value important, but the estimated values of the past, before Europe, how the whales recovered from the decrease in the large number of individuals (if they recovered. It helps scientists to understand better. One study states that 3 million whales were slaughtered at the beginning of whaling. It is especially difficult to estimate the number of whales before larg e-scale commercial whaling in the 19th century reduces the number of whales. Scientists are determining past individuals using past whaling records and genetic methods (comparing genetic diversity in the current group of whales). How many whales are currently in our sea for each whale or the number of individuals is a difficult but important issue for scientists. Understanding how many whales are currently there is not only useful for protection and management, but the trends in the number of individuals occur over time, such as decreasing and increasing population. It is also important to establish an accurate baseline. Scientists rely on several methods to measure the current population of whales. The international whaling committee, an internationally recognized organization that regulates whaling and organizes scientific arguments on whales protection, has set an estimated number of individuals from visual visuals from ships and airplanes. It can also be estimated using underwater sound records, mark capture methods (Mark and recapture), and individual identification methods based on signs and scars. It is difficult to investigate the seeds that live in the ocean, not the coastal ecosystem, so it is not well known about the history of life and the number of individuals. For example, we spend a lot of time in the cold deep sea, and we have little to know about whales that have little signs to find it.

Dr. Moira Brown and Yang Gilbow, a researcher at the New England Aquarium, conducted an air survey of the Atlantic Sem i-Way on the Roseway basin in Canada. (Provided: New England Aquarium)

Not only is the current estimation value important, but the estimated values of the past, before Europe, how the whales recovered from the decrease in the large number of individuals (if they recovered. It helps scientists to understand better. One study states that 3 million whales were slaughtered at the beginning of whaling. It is especially difficult to estimate the number of whales before larg e-scale commercial whaling in the 19th century reduces the number of whales. Scientists are determining past individuals using past whaling records and genetic methods (comparing genetic diversity in the current group of whales). It is difficult but important for scientists to see how many whales in our sea are currently for each whale or the number of individuals. Understanding how many whales are currently there is not only useful for protection and management, but the trends in the number of individuals occur over time, such as decreasing and increasing population. It is also important to establish an accurate baseline. Scientists rely on several methods to measure the current population of whales. The international whaling committee, an internationally recognized organization that regulates whaling and organizes scientific arguments on whales protection, has set an estimated number of individuals from visual visuals from ships and airplanes. It can also be estimated using underwater sound records, mark capture methods (Mark and recapture), and individual identification methods based on signs and scars. It is difficult to investigate the seeds that live in the ocean, not the coastal ecosystem, so it is not well known about the history of life and the number of individuals. For example, we spend a lot of time in the cold deep sea, and we have little to know about whales that have little signs to find it.

Dr. Moira Brown and Yang Gilbow, a researcher at the New England Aquarium, conducted an air survey of the Atlantic Sem i-Way on the Roseway basin in Canada. (Provided: New England Aquarium)

Whales breed by body fertilization. In general, mating is performed in a specific season and a specific sea area. For mostate whales, it means mating and childbirth in the warm tropical waters in winter (see the distribution above). It is believed that killer whales and other wreckage will mate all year round. Depending on the seeds, mating behavior will be different, and both females and males will mate with many different individuals to increase the probability of breeding.

Finding Food

It was unknown where the remaining 450 horses were less than 450, and the Atlantic Sem i-Semi, which was in danger of extinction, will mate until 2013. In 2014, researchers found that this species gathered off the main bay off the main bay during the Northern Hemisphere winter. Dolphins also show signs of courtship behavior, and sometimes have sexual behavior unrelated to aggressive mating and breeding.

Predators

Like humans, whale female pregnancy is long, usually 10 to 17 months. Females usually give birth to one whale at once and have a small number of children who give birth in a lifetime. The whale is usually born from the tail, but in the early days of the evolution of whales, whales were born from the head (the National Museum of Natural History (Santo Ocean Hall), which was born from the other land mammals (Santo Ocean Hall). You can see). It is not clear when whales have come to give birth for the first time, but it probably happened when they moved from land to the sea (see the "Evolution" above). In the case of modern whales, the mother often helps the whale to reach the surface of the water when breathing for the first time, and then helps the whale with predators. When the keta's mother gives birth, she gives a rich, nutritious milk that contains plenty of protein and fat. When a whale is born and breastfeeds, he is with his mother for six months to two years. At this time when energy is needed, whales often do not give birth to the next child for several years. Sirona gas girls grow 100 kg a day. Children grow up quickly, but it takes years to mature sexually (10 years in most whales). Whales breed by fertilization in the body. In general, mating is performed in a specific season and a specific sea area. For mostate whales, it means mating and childbirth in the warm tropical waters in winter (see the distribution above). It is believed that killer whales and other wreckage will mate all year round. Depending on the seeds, mating behavior will be different, and both females and males will mate with many different individuals to increase the probability of breeding.

Parasites

Like humans, whale female pregnancy is long, usually 10 to 17 months. Females usually give birth to one whale at once and have a small number of children who give birth in a lifetime. The whale is usually born from the tail, but in the early days of the evolution of whales, whales were born from the head (the National Museum of Natural History (Santo Ocean Hall), which was born from the other land mammals (Santo Ocean Hall). You can see). It is not clear when whales have come to give birth for the first time, but it probably happened when they moved from land to the sea (see the "Evolution" above). In the case of modern whales, the mother often helps the whale to reach the surface of the water when breathing for the first time, and then helps the whale with predators. When the keta's mother gives birth, she gives a rich, nutritious milk that contains plenty of protein and fat. When a whale is born and breastfeeds, he is with his mother for six months to two years. At this time when energy is needed, whales often do not give birth to the next child for several years. Sirona gas girls grow 100 kg a day. Children grow up quickly, but it takes years to mature sexually (10 years in most whales). Whales breed by body fertilization. In general, mating is performed in a specific season and a specific sea area. For mostate whales, it means mating and childbirth in the warm tropical waters in winter (see the distribution above). It is believed that killer whales and other wreckage will mate all year round. Depending on the seeds, mating behavior will be different, and both females and males will mate with many different individuals to increase the probability of breeding.

Human Connections

Whaling

Whales live long, but the details of their life are a bit confusing because they are difficult to identify and investigate. Most of them are thought to live for at least 20 years, and some have lived longer. The polish whales have lived in 200 years, and the Naga Works lived for nearly 100 years, and most of the whales have lived in 20 to 60 years. The life of the breeding is significantly shorter. According to a study, only 27 % of the breeding killer whales can live up to the age of 15.

It is difficult for scientists to get information about whales and dolphins. Information can be gathered from the dead bones and the bones stored in the whaling era museum. In order to know the age of living whales, researchers focused on the surprising parts of the whales, that is, earwax and skin cells. Whale earwax overlaps in a lifetime, like a tree annual ring. This allows researchers to measure the age of whales, and at the same time, know what pollutants have been exposed throughout their lives.

Whales have lived in social life, have developed complex communication systems to recognize each other, coordinate collective behavior, and contact lon g-distance contacts. This signal includes pulse sounds, whistles, songs, low hamning, and body language that conveys various emotions. Beluga screams very well, and is called the "Canary of the Sea" because of its happy cry.

The crying of the bandwolker is one of the most wel l-studied whales. They use a variety of whistles and "cracks" and "bray" in some places in the world. Each individual has a personal whistle that is used to convey his identity and where he is. These "names" are learned and developed at dolphins when they were young. Dolphins can also learn the characteristic whistling of other individuals and call each other when they meet.

TED-ED, Stephanie Therdelis Whales are long-lived, but it is difficult to identify and investigate, so the details of their life are a bit confusing. Most of them are thought to live for at least 20 years, and some have lived longer. The polish whales have lived in 200 years, and the Naga Works lived for nearly 100 years, and most of the whales have lived in 20 to 60 years. The life of the breeding is significantly shorter. According to a study, only 27 % of the breeding killer whales can live up to the age of 15.

Captivity

TED-ED, Stephanie Therdelis whales are lived for a long time, but the details of their life are a bit confusing because they are difficult to identify and investigate. Most of them are thought to live for at least 20 years, and some have lived longer. The polish whales have lived in 200 years, and the Naga Works lived for nearly 100 years, and most of the whales have lived in 20 to 60 years. The life of the breeding is significantly shorter. According to a study, only 27 % of the breeding killer whales can live up to the age of 15.

Whale Watching

TED-ED, Stephanie Therdelis

Both orcas and sperm whales use special calls that help them communicate with members of their social group. In the case of orcas, the calls are often used to identify each other and coordinate unified hunts. Sperm whales also produce a variety of calls that are specific to a particular social group. A series of rhythmic clicks called codas have a wide range of frequencies and are used during socialization. It is believed that codas are passed down through generations as mothers pass on a particular coda dialect to their young.

For many whales, including bowhead whales, blue whales, minke whales, and fin whales, communication is in the form of songs. The most complex vocalizations are those whales that sing several times for several hours at a time. Each humpback whale song has a specific structure, with songs divided into up to eight themes, which are further divided into phrases. Phrases are made up of individual sounds such as rattles, whistles, sighs, and moans. Whales in a given area usually sing the same song, though it changes slightly over time. But sometimes, as migrating whales pass each other, a group of whales can switch to the most popular song. Scientists liken this phenomenon to a cultural revolution. Why do whales sing? But scientists are convinced that many hypotheses suggest it helps with mating.

Books, Film & Music

Bottlenose dolphins are very social animals, often traveling and hunting in groups called PODs.

Whales are social creatures for the most part. Most whales live in small to medium-sized social groups, at least for most of the year. They often come together for specific activities, such as breeding, migration, feeding, and raising their young. Oceanian dolphins form unusually large groups, with groups of more than 1, 000 individuals. River dolphins, on the other hand, live alone and only come together to share.

Whale social networks useful for information transmission. In 1980, it was observed that whales used a new feeding method of attaching tail fins to the water surface. It has been found that whale shifts from herring to a higher habitat density, a type of fish that is hard to be affected by the bubbles. However, when he tapped the tail sharply, the fish fell into a panic and seemed to be bundled to enhance the effect of the bubble network. By 1989, about half of the eastern theatrical whales used this trick, and whales learned this trick from friends.

Makko whale is the most sociable whale. Pods are composed of about 20 to 50, sometimes combining some pods to form up to 100 large groups. Pods are composed of male only, females, and both combinations. This group was used for whaling in the 1800s.

The Dynamics of the Orca team of the Pacific Northwest is particularly considered. These whales live in two to 50 families. One pod has a settlement type, a territory, but another pod is transient and moves here and there with the changing seasons. These two types of orcas are different from what you like. The settlement Orca mainly eats salmon, but the transient group eats seals, sea lions, seals and other Orca.

Myths & Legends

A violation of whales in the Antarctic Ocean. (Ali Fried Trender)

Whales are known for observing the surface layer. Finding a whale surface is the basis of the thriving tourism industry. Whales need to spend a certain amount of time on the surface of the water to breathe air, but they don't just breathe there, as the whale tour knows. While marine mammals are breathing on the water surface, they do many other actions for feeding and communication.

Large whales usually appear on the surface of the water every 10 to 15 minutes, but small wreckage, such as dolphins, often breathe more frequently and sometimes every minute. When you start breathing on the surface of the water, warm air (including mucus) is released into a cold water, condensed to form a water mouth, which often rises water (for details, see the food and breathing section). This mizuiguchi has a different size and shape depending on the species, and is used to find the species from a distance. Social network of whales is useful for information transmission. In 1980, it was observed that whales used a new feeding method of attaching tail fins to the water surface. It has been found that whale shifts from herring to a higher habitat density, a type of fish that is hard to be affected by the bubbles. However, when he tapped the tail sharply, the fish fell into a panic and seemed to be bundled to enhance the effect of the bubble network. By 1989, about half of the eastern theatrical whales used this trick, and whales learned this trick from friends.

Conservation

Threats

Entanglement & Marine Debris

A violation of whales in the Antarctic Ocean. (Ali Fried Trender)

Shipping Vessels

Large whales usually appear on the surface of the water every 10 to 15 minutes, but small wreckage, such as dolphins, often breathe more frequently and sometimes every minute. When breathing on the surface of the water, warm air (including mucus) is released into cold water and condensed to form a water mouth, which often rises water (for details, see the food and breathing section). This mizuiguchi has a different size and shape depending on the species, and is used to find the species from a distance. Whale social networks useful for information transmission. In 1980, it was observed that whales used a new feeding method of attaching tail fins to the water surface. It has been found that whale shifts from herring to a higher habitat density, a type of fish that is hard to be affected by the bubbles. However, when he tapped the tail sharply, the fish fell into a panic and seemed to be bundled to enhance the effect of the bubble network. By 1989, about half of the eastern theatrical whales used this trick, and whales learned this trick from friends.

Noise Pollution

A violation of whales in the Antarctic Ocean. (Ali Fried Trender)

Successes

A large jump in which almost the entire body is out of the water is called a breach. It is not yet fully understood why whales make such jumps, but several possibilities have been suggested, including warning or flirting with other whales in the pod, physically removing unwanted parasites, gaining air in rough seas, or simply playing. Whales can jump once or many times, but the more they do, the more energy they expend. However, the repeated withdrawal of seals from the sea is an effective form of locomotion used by dolphins and seals to reduce the energy required to swim long distances. Dolphins also ride the waves close to the bow of a boat.

At the Smithsonian

Many other behaviors have been observed in cetaceans, including podding (raising and spreading the flukes or tails in the water), pectoral slapping (raising and inflating the chest or flukes), and spyhopping (the whale comes out of the water perpendicular to the surface). These behaviors are seen in all cetaceans, but are common in pods of larger whales, such as bubble whales, sperm whales, and gray whales. The purpose varies by species and situation. In orcas, spyhopping is often used to get a better view of prey at the surface (PDF) or on pack ice.

Cetaceans are large animals that need to store enough energy to swim, reproduce, care for their young, and avoid predators. To do this, they need to ensure they have enough food. Baleen whales get their name from their feeding strategy. Whales use their large baleen plates to filter thousands of gallons of seawater and catch prey. Hundreds of these plates are lined up and attached to the whale's upper jaw. Baleen is made of keratin, which is also what makes up human nails and hair. Keratin has comb-like tips that help filter the blood of small animals. These large whales (including the blue whale, the largest vertebrate on Earth) feed on tiny creatures that live in the ocean. Their baleen filters the water, catching krill (small planktonic crustaceans) and other plankton, as well as small fish. Whales tend to seek out patches of high density to increase their feeding efficiency.

National Geographic

Exhibits: Past & Present

The 1903 Blue Whale

Most of the egg whales get a large krill near the surface of the water, especially when the whales rush, but the sem i-gloss always moves and moves away. Researchers have found that white whales rotate 360 degrees, diving, and dive, and put their mouths together with their swarms of prey to take the strongest krill. When peaking in Antarctica peaks in Antarctica, the white whale can eat 1 ton of krills a day and drink 150 % of water equivalent to the weight. A flock of whales is united during feeding time. One whale dives and begins to bubbles like a circle under the surface. The bubbles combine and rise to the surface of the water, cause confusion, and create a de facto net that surrounds the encountered fish. Then, the other whales pass through the center and float, push the fish into the surface of the water, and become like a fish in the barrel. The s o-called pure bubble feeding is only observed in the caterpillar in the whale. In contrast, the whales eat the food near the seawater and inhale the prey into a muddy sediment filtered in balloons.

In the case of sabacha, it is not one size. Salvation has a huge amount of food behavior that greatly depends on the arrays of various teeth. Most of the legus is to catch prey, not chewing. Unlike the whale whales that filter a small prey from hundreds to thousands of individuals, tooth whales mainly prey on individual prey. Most dolphins are conical, but seals are flat. The number of teeth can be from one pair to dozens to hundreds.

The 1963 Blue Whale

There are two whales teeth, but the female rarely grows from the gums, and only one male grows. As an exception, some females grew from females. In the case of male, there are two, others have no one. Most whales have one pair of teeth, but the male teeth are hidden in the gums, whereas female teeth are cut down and tend to be only male. 。

A band virker that carries a sponge as a tool that digs prey from seawater. (Ewa Krzyszczyk, Public Library of Science). Most of the egg whales get a large krill near the surface of the water, especially when the whales rush, but the sem i-wisdom always moves and moves away. Researchers have found that white whales rotate 360 degrees, diving, and dive, and put their mouths together with their swarms of prey to take the strongest krill. When peaking in Antarctica peaks in Antarctica, the white whale can eat 1 ton of krills a day and drink 150 % of water equivalent to the weight. A flock of whales is united during feeding time. One whale dives and begins to bubbles like a circle under the surface. The bubbles combine and rise to the surface of the water, cause confusion, and create a de facto net that surrounds the encountered fish. Then, the other whales pass through the center and float, push the fish into the surface of the water, and become like a fish in the barrel. The s o-called pure bubble feeding is only observed in the caterpillar in the whale. In contrast, the whales eat the food near the seawater and inhale the prey into a muddy sediment filtered in balloons.

A band virker that carries a sponge as a tool that digs prey from seawater. (Ewa Krzyszczyk, Public Library of Science). Most of the egg whales get a large krill near the surface of the water, especially when the whales rush, but the sem i-gloss always moves and moves away. Researchers have found that white whales rotate 360 degrees, diving, and dive, and put their mouths together with their swarms of prey to take the strongest krill. When peaking in Antarctica peaks in Antarctica, the white whale can eat 1 ton of krills a day and drink 150 % of water equivalent to the weight. A flock of whales is united during feeding time. One whale dives and begins to bubbles like a circle under the surface. The bubbles combine and rise to the surface of the water, cause confusion, and create a de facto net that surrounds the encountered fish. Then, the other whales pass through the center and float, push the fish into the surface of the water, and become like a fish in the barrel. The s o-called pure bubble feeding is only observed in the caterpillar in the whale. In contrast, the whales eat the food near the seawater and inhale the prey into a muddy sediment filtered in balloons.

The 2003 Right Whale – Phoenix

A band virker that carries a sponge as a tool that digs prey from seawater. (Ewa Krzyszczyk, Public Library of Science).

Most toothed whales feed on one prey item at a time, grabbing and swallowing it whole. Dolphins and porpoises eat a variety of fish, squid, and crustaceans such as crabs and lobsters. Both species can capture prey without the need for chewing, as dolphins use their beaks and conical teeth, whereas dolphins have a shorter mouth and square teeth. Dolphin groups have learned to cover their beaks with tapered sponges to dig up fish hiding on the ocean floor. Dolphins also smack octopuses at the surface of the water to stun them before eating. Beaked whales suck their prey into their mouths and swallow them. Large toothed whales, such as killer whales, eat fish and cephalopods, as well as larger marine mammals such as sharks, sea otters, seals, sea lions, and small whales. Orca populations tend to choose their diet depending on their location: salmon in the Pacific Northwest, herring in European waters, minke whales in Antarctic waters.

Narwhal: Revealing an Arctic Legend

Sperm whales have never been observed feeding, so all we know about their prey is from stomach content studies. They feed mainly on halibut, cod, squid, and shrimp, and in winter they tend to store food and dive deeper to search for prey. Sperm whales need a lot of food, more than a ton per day. To meet their needs, they eat all kinds of animals, including octopus, fish, shrimp, and squid. Sometimes they eat larger creatures, such as giant squid and colossal squid.

Baleen whales find their prey by combining sound, vision, and specialized traps. In 2012, researchers discovered a sensory organ in the lower jaw of some whales. Smithsonian scientist Nick Pyenson and his colleagues hypothesize that the organ helps feed through the giant water saddles of blue, fin and humpback whales. У зубатых китов есть еще один инструмент для поиска добычи, которого нет у китов, - эхолокация. Одонтоцеты производят пинговый сонар, который посылают, а эхо возвращается, когда они ударяются об объект, что позволяет животному лучше осознавать свое окружение и близлежащую добычу. ет помочь обнаружить крошечные различия в размерах, даже рыбу, зарывающуюся в морс кое дно.

Research

How did whales get so big?

Cookie-cutter sharks eat small animals whole (such as squid), but also take large, round, cookie-shaped bites from larger animals such as tuna, whales, dolphins, and seals (as you can see in this elephant seal photo). They lift the larger animal and twist it to bite the flesh using their bottom row of sharp teeth. (Jerry Kirkhart)

Most cetaceans have no natural predators. Large toothed whales, such as sperm whales and sperm whales, face little predation from the ocean, with humans being their biggest threat (see whaling). Killer whales sometimes team up to attack larger baleen whales, but their targets are mainly young or weak and injured adults. There have been cases of meat-biting whales being bitten by cookie-cutter sharks, but there are no recorded cases of death from the bite. Sharks, sea lions, and polar bears also eat smaller toothed whales. Although never observed, there is evidence of epic battles between sperm whales and giant squids. Although the whale appears to eat the squid (the squid's hard beak is inside the whale's stomach), the squid is clearly fighting back, as evidenced by the huge scars often seen on the sperm whale's face and back.

Tracking Whales from Space

A single right whale is infested with hundreds to thousands of tiny crustaceans that feed on algae attached to its skin. (© Michael Moore/Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution)

Cerro Ballena

While cetaceans are the largest animals on Earth, there are also tiny crustaceans that live inside and on the skin of whales, dolphins, and seals. The tiny crustaceans, called whale lice, live in the folds and rough areas of the whale's skin, in lesions, and in the nostrils. Most whale species have a dedicated whale that serves as a host for their entire life cycle. Male and female sperm whales may even host different types of lice.

The barnacles leave the whale in a normal relationship, brushing against the whale's back as they walk. They do not harm the whale, but they use the whale as a mover to bring them food directly. The barnacles do not harm the whale. Research suggests that they may help the whale get rid of other external parasites, but the actual benefit is still unknown. Some marine animals and fish that follow the whale may make use of these residues.

Learning From Mysterious Baleen

A wide variety of pests also attack whales. Whale wings, intestines, stomach, liver, and lungs have various parasites. A kind of roundworm parasitizes the placenta of the whale whale, and its length exceeds 8 meters. Makko whale pygmy is parasitizing similar long insects to tissue under the skin of whales.

The first record of whaling dates back to 6000 BC in the Neolithic era discovered in Korea. Similarly, a sculpture depicting men chasing whales indicates that Norwegs had begun whaling by 2000 BC. Greenland, the Japanese archipelago, the Aleukin archipelago and the Phoenician Islands also have evidence of early whaling. Early whaling people mainly used whales as food, fuel and tools. In order to guarantee good harvest, they praised whales in various ways and thanked them.

Collections

Rice's Whale

In the 11th century, catching whales with harpoon was a way to get rich. Around this time, the Basque Whaling ship in the Iberian Peninsula (Spain) was capturing sem i-whaling. The sem i-wisdom gathered near the shore, was relatively slow, rich in grease, and was floating even after being killed, so it was known later. From one sem i-speech, 5. 247 liters (1. 386 gallon) oil and 293 kilograms (647 pounds) can be removed. In Norway and Iceland, whales eat the fjord and block the exit by net. The spear for capturing whales was sinked by previous hunting blood, as the wound was suppurated and the whale died. The most successful huntsman was a Basque, and they began whales using ships and predators in Western Europe in the 11th century, and continued until the whales in the area were exhausted. Later, the whaling of the Basquek moved to Labrador across the Atlantic Ocean, capturing sem i-wakyla and polish whales from 1520 to 1630. By 1600, these whales also decreased. So the fishermen in the Basque looked at cod and seals.

A whaling ship hits a sem i-whale in the 1856 Kariar & Aivs print. The US Congress Library

In the United States, whaling reached its height by the mid-19th century. The American whaling industry, known as Yankee whaling, dominated the world by 1846, with 735 of the world's 900 whaling ships. The whaling industry primarily targeted sperm whales in the South Pacific, with the United States alone catching more than 100, 000 whales at its peak. Sperm whale oil was highly sought after for its excellent lubricating qualities and the lack of strong burning odor. Sperm whales also had a special liquid in their heads called "head oil," and their internal organs contained a waxy substance called ambergris, which was used in medicines and perfumes. Baleen whales such as gray whales, bowhead whales, humpback whales, and right whales were also targeted, despite the inferior quality of their oil. The barine was used for trolley whips, trolley springs, corsets, fishing rods, umbrellas, and hoop skirts. Because life at sea was long and hard for whalers, many of them filled their free time with carving and engraving. Scrimshaw was a traditional 19th-century hobby in which decorative carvings were made on whale teeth, bones, and gourds (also called whale teeth).

Elim Poon - Journalist, Creative Writer

Last modified: 27.08.2024

Researchers found the remains of whales—seven confirmed and almost certainly more than 60 total skeletons in the dark depths, a phenomenon known as “whale fall. A life-size model of a North Atlantic right whale named Phoenix. The result of four years of work, and collaboration between exhibit fabricators, whale. Experts in marine mammal research, conservation and management gathered at the Smithsonian Institution to talk Rice's whales—and how to save them.

Play

accepted