If you have been lucky enough to see a whale close up in the ocean, you will have been captivated by its beauty, and amazed at its size. Whales can weigh up to 150 tons. The length of their bodies can exceed 100ft. Their bodies are streamlined body to enable them to glide gracefully, and quickly, through water. There are two types: the Baleen whale and the Toothed Whale.
Whales are mammals therefore they are warm-blooded. They can live in the iciest of water thanks to large amounts of blubber that lie under their skin. They have lungs, not gills. Because of this, they need to come up to the surface of the water regularly to breathe in air. But they can stay submerged for a very long time.
An opening on the top of their bodies enables them to breathe in air. The whale is completely harmless to mankind, but it is classified as a predator in the sea. They feast on vast quantities of plankton as their primary source of nourishment. Plankton is a huge mass of very small plants and fish. Whales also eat other larger species of fish.
Do you know that the largest creature in the world is the Blue Whale? This type belongs in the Baleen category. All whales are extremely intelligent and live together in clusters called pods. Like humans they form long-lasting relationships and a pod will stay together for as long as possible.
Adult females are called cows, while adult males are called bulls. During winter, these huge mammals migrate thousands of miles to warmer climates. The Orca (also known as the Killer Whale) can swim as fast as 50 km/hour.
These mammals breed slowly. It will take a cow a full year before giving birth to a calf. She will not breed again for another couple of years. A baby calf usually weights about 2 tons when it is born, and it will pick up weight at the rate of 200 pounds per day during its first year. Cows and calves build up a very close bond.
If you want to know more wonderful facts about whales it’s easy! These beautiful creatures are splendid and graceful. They will fill you with amazement and wonder. And you can find out more about them when you visit our website today!