Whales Are The Most Majestic Creatures In The Ocean
Friday, 11 December 2009 08:58 | 
Written by Pam Golding |
There can be few things as breath-taking as watching a whale. These giants of the sea can weigh as much as 150 tons, while their length can be more than 100 feet. Their large bodies are able slide through the ocean at amazing speed. Whilst there are many types of whales, there are two categories, i. E. The Baleen whale or the Toothed Whale.
There can be few things as breath-taking as watching a whale. These giants of the sea can weigh as much as 150 tons, while their length can be more than 100 feet. Their large bodies are able slide through the ocean at amazing speed. Whilst there are many types of whales, there are two categories, i. E. The Baleen whale or 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.
A Baleen whale called the Blue Whale is the biggest mammal in the world. Whales have an extremely high level of intelligence. They co-habit in groups called pods. They are very loyal to each other and will stay together as long as they can.
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.
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.
There can be few things as breath-taking as watching a whale. These giants of the sea can weigh as much as 150 tons, while their length can be more than 100 feet. Their large bodies are able slide through the ocean at amazing speed. Whilst there are many types of whales, there are two categories, i. E. The Baleen whale or 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.
A Baleen whale called the Blue Whale is the biggest mammal in the world. Whales have an extremely high level of intelligence. They co-habit in groups called pods. They are very loyal to each other and will stay together as long as they can.
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.
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 learn more wonderful facts about 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 about them when you visit our website today!