Whales were once abundant in the ocean but they were quickly hunted and killed out. These were a hot product due to their oil and meat and most of the larger types were hunted until they were almost instinct. Most countries have banned whaling though a few still allow it. There are many organizations that are devoted to saving these animals.
There are two different types of whale's baleen varieties and toothed varieties. A Baleen species has baleen in its mouth which is like a sieved. These creatures filter plankton from the water for food. Baleen varieties tend to be the largest of their species. Toothed varieties have teeth and eat squid and fish. They use echolocation in order to sense their environment.
They are not fish but they are mammals as they breath air, produce and feed their young milk and are warm blooded. They are able to survive in the cold water because of the layer of blubber that is under their skin.
This blubber acts as insulation as well as can be metabolized for energy when food is scarce. They breathe through their blowholes on the top of their heads and baleen species have two different blowholes.
Most times these animals are considered predators though most only eat plankton or krill. They actually do not drink seawater but get all of the water that they need through metabolizing food and fat. You may not know that they will actually chose where they want to breath and they do not sleep because there is the possibility of drowning. However only a section of their brain sleeps at once.
Many of the larger whales are extinct and smaller species are being threatened as they are being killed by the nets used by fisheries. Populations are slowly recovering after all of the hunting that occurred in the 20th century.
There are two different types of whale's baleen varieties and toothed varieties. A Baleen species has baleen in its mouth which is like a sieved. These creatures filter plankton from the water for food. Baleen varieties tend to be the largest of their species. Toothed varieties have teeth and eat squid and fish. They use echolocation in order to sense their environment.
They are not fish but they are mammals as they breath air, produce and feed their young milk and are warm blooded. They are able to survive in the cold water because of the layer of blubber that is under their skin.
This blubber acts as insulation as well as can be metabolized for energy when food is scarce. They breathe through their blowholes on the top of their heads and baleen species have two different blowholes.
Most times these animals are considered predators though most only eat plankton or krill. They actually do not drink seawater but get all of the water that they need through metabolizing food and fat. You may not know that they will actually chose where they want to breath and they do not sleep because there is the possibility of drowning. However only a section of their brain sleeps at once.
Many of the larger whales are extinct and smaller species are being threatened as they are being killed by the nets used by fisheries. Populations are slowly recovering after all of the hunting that occurred in the 20th century.
About the Author:
Whales communication has long fascinated Astrid Kelly while Watching the whale along the East Coast of South Africa.
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