WHALES
Like all mammals, whales breathe air into lungs, are warm-blooded, feed their
young milk and have some (although very little) hair. Their bodies resemble the
streamlined form of a fish, while the forelimbs or flippers are paddle-shaped.
The tail fins, or flukes, enable whales to propel themselves through the water.
Most species of whale have a fin on their backs known as a dorsal fin.
Did You Know?
Whales are mammals, and as such, they have hair—though very little of
it!
Beneath the skin lies a layer of fat called blubber. It serves as an energy
reservoir and also as insulation. Whales breathe through blowholes, located on
the top of the head so the animal can remain submerged. Baleen whales have two
blowholes,while toothed whales have one.
Diet
The diet of whales depends on their species; it can range from microscopic
plankton to large marine mammals.
Population
Varies with each species.
Range
Whales live in all of the world's oceans, though their specific range varies
by species.
Behavior
Many whales, especially baleen whales, tend to migrate long distances from
their cold-water feeding grounds to warm-water breeding grounds each year. They
travel alone or in groups, or pods, on their annual migrations. Toothed whales
often hunt in groups, migrate together and share young-rearing duties.
Did You Know?
The Blue Whale is the largest known mammal that has ever lived, and the
largest living animal, at up to 110 feet long and 150 tons.
Most whales are quite active in the water. They jump high, or breach, out of
the water and land back in the water. They also thrust their tails out of the
water and slap the water's surface, which is believed to be a warning of danger
nearby. Whales also communicate with each other using lyrical sounds. These
sounds are extremely loud depending on the species and can be heard for many
miles.
Because of their environment (and unlike many animals) and because they need
to breathe air by coming to the water's surface, whales are conscious breathers,
meaning they decide when to breathe. All mammals sleep, including whales, but
they cannot afford to fall into an unconscious state for too long, since they
need to be conscious to break the surface in order to breathe
Reproduction
Mating season: Varies depending on the
species.
Gestation: 9-15 months, depending on the
species.
Number of offspring: 1 calf.
Nursing time is
long (more than one year for many species), which is associated with a strong
bond between mother and young. This strategy of reproduction spawns few
offspring, but provides each with a high probability of survival in the
wild.
Threats to Whales
The effects of climate change will be felt by most marine
creatures, and whales are certainly not excluded. Sea level rise and changes in
sea temperature will leave whales quite vulnerable, and they may not be able to
adapt quickly enough to survive. Arctic and antarctic whale habitat faces a
particular threat from climate change. Whale food sources will also face
challenges, such as a decline in krill population, which is the main food source
for many large whale species.
What Defenders Is Doing to Help Whales
Defenders is currently hard a work on behalf of two highly endangered North
American whale species. Learn more about our efforts to save the Cook Inlet beluga whale and the North Atlantic right whale.
Whaling is one of the biggest threats to whales. By the middle of the 20th
century, whaling had left many populations severely depleted. The International
Whaling Commission introduced a moratorium which continues to this day. However,
there are still some exceptions to this moratorium. This allows countries like
Norway, Iceland and Japan and the aboriginal communities of Siberia, Alaska and
northern Canada to continue their annual whale hunts.
In addition, several species of small whales are caught as bycatch in
fisheries for other species. Exposure to contaminants and pollution also
threaten whales. Scientists also believe that underwater sonar testing by the
navies of various countries leads to whale beachings. Mass whale beachings occur
in many species, mostly beaked whales that use echolocation systems for deep
diving. Whales are also threatened by climate change because higher water
temperatures in the Antarctic Ocean are reducing populations of krill, a
small-shrimp-like crustacean that is the main food source for some whale
species.
Get More Information
More on Whales: What You Can Do to Help Whales
»
young milk and have some (although very little) hair. Their bodies resemble the
streamlined form of a fish, while the forelimbs or flippers are paddle-shaped.
The tail fins, or flukes, enable whales to propel themselves through the water.
Most species of whale have a fin on their backs known as a dorsal fin.
Did You Know?
Whales are mammals, and as such, they have hair—though very little of
it!
Beneath the skin lies a layer of fat called blubber. It serves as an energy
reservoir and also as insulation. Whales breathe through blowholes, located on
the top of the head so the animal can remain submerged. Baleen whales have two
blowholes,while toothed whales have one.
Diet
The diet of whales depends on their species; it can range from microscopic
plankton to large marine mammals.
Population
Varies with each species.
Range
Whales live in all of the world's oceans, though their specific range varies
by species.
Behavior
Many whales, especially baleen whales, tend to migrate long distances from
their cold-water feeding grounds to warm-water breeding grounds each year. They
travel alone or in groups, or pods, on their annual migrations. Toothed whales
often hunt in groups, migrate together and share young-rearing duties.
Did You Know?
The Blue Whale is the largest known mammal that has ever lived, and the
largest living animal, at up to 110 feet long and 150 tons.
Most whales are quite active in the water. They jump high, or breach, out of
the water and land back in the water. They also thrust their tails out of the
water and slap the water's surface, which is believed to be a warning of danger
nearby. Whales also communicate with each other using lyrical sounds. These
sounds are extremely loud depending on the species and can be heard for many
miles.
Because of their environment (and unlike many animals) and because they need
to breathe air by coming to the water's surface, whales are conscious breathers,
meaning they decide when to breathe. All mammals sleep, including whales, but
they cannot afford to fall into an unconscious state for too long, since they
need to be conscious to break the surface in order to breathe
Reproduction
Mating season: Varies depending on the
species.
Gestation: 9-15 months, depending on the
species.
Number of offspring: 1 calf.
Nursing time is
long (more than one year for many species), which is associated with a strong
bond between mother and young. This strategy of reproduction spawns few
offspring, but provides each with a high probability of survival in the
wild.
Threats to Whales
The effects of climate change will be felt by most marine
creatures, and whales are certainly not excluded. Sea level rise and changes in
sea temperature will leave whales quite vulnerable, and they may not be able to
adapt quickly enough to survive. Arctic and antarctic whale habitat faces a
particular threat from climate change. Whale food sources will also face
challenges, such as a decline in krill population, which is the main food source
for many large whale species.
What Defenders Is Doing to Help Whales
Defenders is currently hard a work on behalf of two highly endangered North
American whale species. Learn more about our efforts to save the Cook Inlet beluga whale and the North Atlantic right whale.
Whaling is one of the biggest threats to whales. By the middle of the 20th
century, whaling had left many populations severely depleted. The International
Whaling Commission introduced a moratorium which continues to this day. However,
there are still some exceptions to this moratorium. This allows countries like
Norway, Iceland and Japan and the aboriginal communities of Siberia, Alaska and
northern Canada to continue their annual whale hunts.
In addition, several species of small whales are caught as bycatch in
fisheries for other species. Exposure to contaminants and pollution also
threaten whales. Scientists also believe that underwater sonar testing by the
navies of various countries leads to whale beachings. Mass whale beachings occur
in many species, mostly beaked whales that use echolocation systems for deep
diving. Whales are also threatened by climate change because higher water
temperatures in the Antarctic Ocean are reducing populations of krill, a
small-shrimp-like crustacean that is the main food source for some whale
species.
Get More Information
- North Atlantic Right Whale Fact Sheet
- Beluga
Whale Fact Sheet - World
Conservation Union - North
Atlantic Marine Mammal Commission - North
Pacific Marine Science Organization - Convention on International Trade in Endangered
Species - NOAA's National Marine Fisheries
Service
More on Whales: What You Can Do to Help Whales
»