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.
A whale is a mammal - meaning it is warm-blooded like human beings. They can survive in extremely cold oceans because they have a thick layer of blubber under their skin. Whales do not have gills - they have lungs. This requires them to take in air. That's why you will see them surfacing at regular intervals. Once they have breathed, they can remain underwater 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.
A Killer Whale, also called the Orca, can swim at the rate of 50 km per hour. The term for a mature female is a cow, while the term for a mature male is a bull. Pods travel for thousands of kilometers in the winter to seek warmer waters.
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.
A whale is a mammal - meaning it is warm-blooded like human beings. They can survive in extremely cold oceans because they have a thick layer of blubber under their skin. Whales do not have gills - they have lungs. This requires them to take in air. That's why you will see them surfacing at regular intervals. Once they have breathed, they can remain underwater 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.
A Killer Whale, also called the Orca, can swim at the rate of 50 km per hour. The term for a mature female is a cow, while the term for a mature male is a bull. Pods travel for thousands of kilometers in the winter to seek warmer waters.
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.
About the Author:
When you want to know more wonderful facts regarding whales it's easy! These beautiful creatures are graceful and splendid. They will fill you with amazement and wonder. And you can find out more regarding them when you visit our website today!
0 comments:
Post a Comment