Whales
Main Information
Whales are very majestical and intelligent animals. They place much value on their families and the role that each member plays. Individual families travel and migrate in groups called pods. Whales are also called Cetacea and are related dolphins and porpoises. The blue whale is the most largest species of the whale family. In fact the blue whale is even larger than the largest dinosaur to exist! Whale population is increasing but are still considered to be endangered.
Appearance
Killer whales are black or deep brown with striking white patches above the eyes. Their flippers are large and oval in shape. The killer whales tail is made up of 2 parts called the fuikeses Thaey have a row of sharp teeth which curves back a little. Blue whales are blue,-gray in color. They have a large, broad body. Blue whales have a large ridge on the top of the head leading from the tip of the snout to the blow-holes. Their flippers are long and thin. The tail flukes are relatively small. Their are about 55-88 grooves extending from the chin to the naval. Grooves allow the mouth to extend considerably during feeding. The tongue, palate, and baleen are black in color. The baleen is wide and short (less than 1 meter). The Brownhead whale is a very stocky animal with a large head. Their mouth is bowed strongly upward. Their skin is smooth and free with parasites. They are blue and black in color with random light patches the stomach and the lower jaw. They have no dorsal fin and their flippers are small and paddle shaped.
Size and Weight in Numbers
The height and weight of the whale depends on the type of species they are in. The length of the Killer whale is about 30ft. long, and the weight of the Killer whale is 11,000 pounds. The height of the Blue whale is 24-27 meters the largest Blue whale ever found was 33.58 meters lon! Cant you believe it!! The weight of the Blue whale is 100-200 tons. The height of the Brownhead whale in length is 14-18 kg. while the weight of the Brownhead whale is 60-90,000 kg. The height of the Fins wahle is 18-27 meters long. The female whale is much larger than male Fin whale. The weight of the Fin whale is 30-75,00 kg.
Threats
Back in the old days people killed millions of whales for lamp oil, cosmetics, lubricants, and for a tasty meal. They face many other dangers such as pollution, loss of food sources, climate change., toxic substances spilled, and being tangled or trapped by nets. people used Baleen whales to make tennis racquets and corsets. Sadly, these days some countries such as Iceland, Japan, and Norway kill whales to sell whale meat for profit which is very expensive luxury to some people. No one knows how many whales are left in Earths ocean. They are considered ....... endangered sea animals.