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.
These majestic creatures are mammals. This means they are warm-blooded like humans. A thick layer of blubber beneath the skin allows them to survive in the most freezing of waters. Unlike fish that have gills, a whale has lungs. This means that from time to time they have to surface to take in air. However, they are able to stay underwater for long periods of 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.
The Blue Whale (a Baleen) is the biggest creature in the world. Whales are very intelligent creatures. They live in groups known as pods where they hunt and move around together. These huge mammals are very loyal to one another.
Just because it is large, don’t under estimate the speed of a whale. The Killer Whale (also known as the Orca) is able to move at 50 kilometers an hour. Fully grown females are known as cows, and fully grown males are known as bulls.
A cow will take about one year to give birth to a single calf. She will only give birth again about two or three years later. A newborn calf can weigh as much as 2 tons at birth. And it can gain 200 pounds of weight every day in the first year of its life. The bond between a mother and a calf is extremely strong.
When you want to know more amazing 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!