There are 2 main groups of whales:
Baleen whales - have mouths that look like large combs which filter krill and fish from the water. They are usually bigger than toothed whales. They have 2 blowholes. Some Baleen whales are the Blue Whale, Fin Whale, Hummpback Whale, Minke Whale, Sei Whale and Southern Right Whales.
Toothed whales - have narrow jaws and teeth which they use to catch fish, squid and other marine mammals that they swallow whole. Toothed whales are usually smaller than Baleen whales. Some examples are the Killer Whale and the Sperm Whale.
Whales are the only mammals (including porpoises and dolphins which are from the same family) that live their whole life in the water. They breathe air through lungs. They are warm-blooded. They have a four chambered heart. They nurse their young with milk from the mother whale.
Whales swim by moving their tail flippers (flukes) up and down.
All Antarctic whales migrate long distances. They feed in the cold southern oceans of the Antarctic and then move to warmer northern waters to breed and give birth during winter.
Female whales usually only have one calf per season. They are pregnant for a year. Calves swim as soon as they are born and are protected by their mother for up to 12 months.
Whales travel in large groups called pods or alone or in pairs.
Whales can live for 20 to 40 years.
Whale hunting used to be very common. Whaling resulted in many species of whale nearly becoming extinct. Now whaling is very closely monitored.
Baleen whales - have mouths that look like large combs which filter krill and fish from the water. They are usually bigger than toothed whales. They have 2 blowholes. Some Baleen whales are the Blue Whale, Fin Whale, Hummpback Whale, Minke Whale, Sei Whale and Southern Right Whales.
Toothed whales - have narrow jaws and teeth which they use to catch fish, squid and other marine mammals that they swallow whole. Toothed whales are usually smaller than Baleen whales. Some examples are the Killer Whale and the Sperm Whale.
Whales are the only mammals (including porpoises and dolphins which are from the same family) that live their whole life in the water. They breathe air through lungs. They are warm-blooded. They have a four chambered heart. They nurse their young with milk from the mother whale.
Whales swim by moving their tail flippers (flukes) up and down.
All Antarctic whales migrate long distances. They feed in the cold southern oceans of the Antarctic and then move to warmer northern waters to breed and give birth during winter.
Female whales usually only have one calf per season. They are pregnant for a year. Calves swim as soon as they are born and are protected by their mother for up to 12 months.
Whales travel in large groups called pods or alone or in pairs.
Whales can live for 20 to 40 years.
Whale hunting used to be very common. Whaling resulted in many species of whale nearly becoming extinct. Now whaling is very closely monitored.