Whales have always captivated our sense of wonder, but there’s so much more to these majestic creatures than their impressive size.
Here are some fascinating facts about these deep-sea giants!
Massive Mammals
Whales are actually mammals. They breathe oxygen, give birth to their young, consume milk, and at some point in their lives, have hair!
They Live A Long Life
Whales are among the creatures with the longest lifespans. Bowhead whales (a type of baleen whale found in the Arctic) are thought to live for more than 200 years, whereas killer whales (a toothed whale found in a variety of habitats around the world) are thought to live for more than 100 years.
The Two Types Of Whales
There are two types of whales out there: Toothed Whales and Baleen Whales.
Toothed whales, as the name implies, have teeth. They make up 76 species of whales, including sperm whales, beluga whales, and narwhals. They are extremely skilled hunters. They use bio-sonar to track down their prey, which consists huge fish, octopuses, and squid.
The baleen whale, however, has no teeth. Instead, their mouths are bordered with keratin plates that look like curtains. They’re filter feeders, which means they drink a lot of water that’s full of krill or shrimp. They force the water out of their filtered mouths like a sieve, swallowing whatever is left.
Songs Of The Whale
Whales have mating calls, like most other mammals. But whale songs can only be learned from other whales and are quite sophisticated in sound. Male humpbacks are by far the most well-known crooners, and their serenades can last up to 30 minutes!
Bowheads have the most song repertoire, and, like jazz musicians, they enjoy improvising. Blue whales are the world’s largest mammals, so it doesn't come as a surprise that they have the lowest frequency of musical talent.