Pumps

The blue whale (blue whale) is the largest animal on earth. The blue whale is the largest modern animal Who eats whales in nature

The blue whale, which is also called the vomit, scientists refer to the baleen whales. The length of this marine animal reaches 33 meters, and the mass sometimes exceeds 150 tons. Currently, it is he who is considered the largest earthly creature. Despite their huge size, they feed on crustaceans, plankton, krill, and small cephalopods. The giant swims slowly, taking water into its mouth, the volume of which is about 23 cubic meters. The plates of the whalebone form a wonderfully working filtering apparatus, through which food is filtered, and excess water goes into the ocean. For those who want to learn more about how the blue whale lives, which is sometimes very diverse and similar to science fiction, it is not so easy to find the right materials. The life of this giant is still insufficiently studied, and many data need to be verified.

The blue whale has three subspecies - northern, southern and pygmy. Rarely, but still found Indian. The blue whale can be attributed to the centenarians of our planet. On average, its life expectancy is about 80 - 90 years, sometimes there are references that individual specimens could live up to 110 years.

Blue whales swim in the ocean in small groups of 2 - 3 individuals. Many adult animals are solitary. Sea giants are monogamous, if they form a pair, then for life and will never be separated. The male always stays close to the female, trying not to swim far from her. In places with an abundance of food, whales gather in large numbers, but even there they swim very scattered.

The movements of the animal are slow, apparently due to the large size of the body, it does not maneuver well and is rather clumsy. Until now, its activity at night and in the evening has hardly been studied, as it is assumed that it leads a daytime lifestyle and moves little at night.

What makes up the basis of the giant's diet has been fully studied. These are plankton, crustaceans not exceeding 6 cm in size, from the euphausian order, which often form huge aggregations - krill. Small fish, small squids are swallowed by accident during feeding and are of no importance for the nutrition of the whale. The marine animal eats the plankton along with the water, then closes its huge mouth and squeezes out the remaining water with its tongue through the whalebone. Sometimes it is very difficult for him to "slam" it, because, according to measurements, the volume of such water in a 150-tonne buval is 32.6 cubic meters. Often the blue whale does not have enough strength, with a full mouth of food it is forced to roll over on its side or even on its back, then under the pressure of the deep sea the mouth slams shut. A completely filled stomach of a sea giant can hold up to one and a half tons of food.

Interesting facts about whales contain the following information. For about eight months a year, blue whales eat almost nothing, they live on previously accumulated reserves - they spend fat. But in the summer they actively eat, absorb food almost without stopping and quickly restore normal weight. To do this, they sail to the cold, but rich in food, arctic waters of the Southern Hemisphere and feed intensively there for 120 days. In warm tropical latitudes, the stomach of whales is usually empty.

reproduction

The blue whale has the lowest rate of natural growth among all baleen whales. At one time, ketologists (scientists who study cetaceans) believed that the increase in their population would no longer be able to compensate for the decline. In this regard, on February 19, 1986, the International Whale Commission introduced a complete ban on fishing for all types of these marine animals.

The cubs of the female biuvala give birth every two years. But recently, due to their small number, couples can be formed much less frequently. This leads to a decrease in the likelihood of offspring. The duration of pregnancy is not precisely established, on average, from 10 to 12 months. Most often, one cub is born, whose body length exceeds 6 meters, and its weight is 2 - 3 tons. Sometimes there may be twins.

Female blue whales have several embryos at the beginning of pregnancy, the maximum number of embryos is 7. But in the later stages, most of them resolve, which is typical for many cetaceans. This is an atavism, a legacy of land ancestors who had large offspring.

The female buffaloes nurse their young for the first 7 months. During this time, the "baby" manages to grow up to 16 meters, which is comparable to the size of an adult male sperm whale. Its mass can reach 23 tons. Every day, a small whale receives 90 liters of milk, and its weight, on average, increases by 44 kg. The fat content in mother's milk reaches 50%, and the amount of protein and fat together make up half of the total weight. Therefore, with such nutrition, a cub at the age of one and a half years reaches a mass of 50 tons and grows up to 20 meters in length. Physical maturity in biuvals occurs after 15 years.

Short but interesting

In the old days, legends were made about mysterious sea animals, stories were told about them. Many of them were pretty fantastic. In those distant times, people believed that it was possible to live in the stomach of this huge creature. In fact, the blue whale's throat opening is comparable in size to an ordinary saucer. Theoretically, a sperm whale can swallow a person, the size of his throat may well allow this. For many people, the following facts may seem surprising or unbelievable:

Over the years, the number of blue whales has been gradually decreasing. But many scientists believe that they can still be saved from complete extinction. Well-known politicians, actors, public figures are working on the possibility of preserving these, which have already become rare marine ones. Thanks to the systematic study of these giants by ketologists, many people have learned what it is, a blue whale, interesting facts about which are full of incredible data.

Evgeny Marushevsky

freelancer, constantly travels the world

Just fifteen meters away you can see a huge fountain of spray, among which you can distinguish a graceful whale. He, bending his back, plunges into the depths.

Children scream enthusiastically, adults click cameras, and foreigners talk to each other.

Tourists from all over the world come from all over the world to watch whales in their natural habitat. These graceful and cute animals are unlikely to leave anyone indifferent. So where can you see whales?

The first place where whales are found is the Bay of Biscay. Tourists come here who do not like the northern latitudes. You can watch these marine life all year round, but the chance to see them is higher from August to September.

The largest "smooth" (genus name) whale was named after the Bay - Biscay. The sea dweller feeds on crustaceans, keeps close to the surface of the water and fearlessly swims to the shore. Between the islands of La Gomera and Tenerife, there is a high probability of seeing whales, since the warmest and cleanest water is concentrated here.

A significant "plus": even in the summer season, there are not as many tourists on the Bay of Biscay, unlike other places where whales live.

Whales can also be found in the western corner of Europe. Enterprising residents immediately realized the benefits of their living and built tourist boats from fishing schooners. This is beneficial for both parties: the inhabitants of Iceland earn money, and tourists travel on a ship that has a special atmosphere. The duration of the tour is from three to three and a half hours.

Most often in the waters of Iceland you can find white-faced whales and minke whales. Blue whales and beluga whales often visit.

Husavik, a port city, is famous for its museum, which is dedicated to whales and everything related to these marine life. This is the largest "whale" center in Europe.

There is no law in Iceland against eating whale meat, but the inhabitants do not do so of their own free will.

The Lofoten Islands are rich in fish that attract huge whales and dolphins. Marine life can be seen from the shore, but for a greater impression, it is advised to sail a few kilometers on a boat.

In the winter season, frequent guests of the Lofoten Islands are minke whales.

The Lofoten Islands are located beyond the Arctic Circle, so it is important to take into account the climate of this place: severe cold, winter lasts about two hundred and forty days a year and comes at the end of September.

Greenland is considered the real kingdom of whales, polar bears and walruses. The city of Aasiaat, called the whale capital of Greenland, is the most suitable for whale watching. Most often, marine mammals can be found from June to September, when the water is warmest. The 3-hour tour includes hot drinks.

In the summer, the southern coast of Alaska is a migration site for whales leaving California waters. There are several species of them here: gray whales, humpback whales and killer whales. Sometimes there are blue whales listed in the Red Book.

Rounding out the list of northern whale watching spots is Scotland. Marine life can be found in the area of the Isles of Skye and Mull from June to September.

The Azores are suitable for tourists who want to see as many types of whales as possible. There are more than twenty-three of them here. You can swim up to the whales at a distance of several meters.

The best time is from April to June. The Azores are large, but for sightseeing, choose the narrow isthmus between the Pico and Faial Islands - this is a migratory route for whales.

There is a whale museum in the Azores. It contains hundreds of exhibits dedicated to whales and everything related to these marine life.

The Dominican Peninsula Samana is a favorite place for lovers and honeymooners. Here is beautiful nature, pleasant climate, and in many places of the resort no human foot has set foot, which makes it romantic and full of bliss.

The Samana Peninsula is located in the northern part of the Dominican Republic, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. But it is suitable not only for couples in love, but also for tourists who want to see whales. From January to March, sixty tons of humpback whales can be found here.

Warships supervise the procedure for conducting whale excursions. Specialists ensure that people are on licensed vessels and prevent the creation of unnecessary noise and smoke.

Don't forget to put a waterproof case on your camera because the whales have no idea they're being filmed.

If you want to see the largest toothed whales, sperm whales, go to New Zealand. It is in these waters that the warm and cold currents mix, which is very fond of marine life. Previously, sperm whales were hunted, and the species was almost completely exterminated. Now the whales are listed in the Red Book, their population is being restored.

The city of Kaikura is best suited for watching sperm whales. In addition to whales, you can often find another local attraction here - Hector's dolphins. These marine inhabitants love to swim with children, which makes them absolutely delighted.

The waters of this country are a favorite place for a variety of marine life, in particular, whales. You can meet them from April to November. It is winter in Australia at this time of the year and whales migrate between the east and west coasts. Tourists can see their mating games, acrobatics and hunting (not for animals!). In the cities of Victor Harbor and Head of the Bight, whales can be watched from the shore.

Most often (especially in early June), right whales and humpback whales are found in the waters of Australia.

The safety of the whales is actively monitored by the Australian authorities.

In the Sydney Bay, tourists can watch the rare giant blue whale (a little over thirty meters long). True, the probability of meeting these marine inhabitants is extremely small: their population has declined after mass extermination. There were times when blue whales did not appear in the waters of Australia for about twenty years.

Off the Argentine Peninsula Valdez, there are southern right whales, which are considered a rarity. The only settlement on the peninsula is Puerto Piramides. A little over five hundred people live here. Their occupations are the protection of Valdes and ecological tourism.

Whales visit the peninsula from early September to early December. At this time, you can watch the whales play, the birth of babies and their feeding.

Southern whales are real giants. An adult reaches eighteen meters and weighs eighty tons. The cub already at birth has a length of six meters and a weight of one and a half tons. Rare tourists are not afraid of such dimensions. But southern whales are friendly enough and do not harm people.

It is reasonable to ask the question - where in Russia can you see whales?

Feel free to go to the North of the country, to the famous Beluga Cape. White whales calmly swim up to the shore and delight with their presence.

More than a thousand white whales live in the White Sea (this is the smallest breed of marine life) and you can meet them in Russia all year round.

The blue whale is a marine mammal that belongs to the order of cetaceans, and belongs to the baleen whales of the minke whale genus. This is the largest of the whales, the largest of modern animals, and probably the largest of all species that lived and live on our planet. The body length of the blue whale is about 33 meters, the weight exceeds 150 tons.

The blue whale is the largest of all cetaceans and the largest animal on the planet. Its dimensions are really huge. The largest recorded was a female with a body length of 33.58 meters and a weight of over 150 tons. The maximum known length for a male was 31 meters. The average size of males in the north is 22.8 m, females - 23.5 m, the inhabitants of the south are on average 1 meter larger.

The color of the blue whale is monotonous. The skin is gray with a blue tint, the head and lower jaw are darker, the back, sides and belly are lighter. On the body there are gray spots of various sizes and shapes, and the body is, as it were, “marble”. When viewed through the water, the color of the whale appears blue, which is why it got its name.

The body is elongated, slender. The head is large, with a sharp snout, flattened. The lower jaw is wide. There are tactile hairs on the muzzle. The eyes are small, in the corners of the mouth. The fin on the back is small, sharp, triangular in shape. Its rear edge is covered with characteristic scratches. The fins on the chest of the blue whale are elongated and narrow. Tail fin width 7.6 m.

On exhalation, the blue whale releases a fountain of water vertically as a narrow cone or column 9-10 m high expanding upwards.

The blue whale is a plankton-eater, and feeds in the same way as other minke whales, it eats small crustaceans from the euphausian order - krill. In each specific region of habitat, 1-2 species of crustaceans predominate. Fish in the diet of the blue whale is practically not found or is swallowed by accident.

During feeding, the blue whale swims slowly, opens its mouth and draws water with small crustaceans into it. Then he closes his mouth and squeezes out the water with his tongue through the whalebone. The plankton settles on the fringe and is swallowed. The stripes on the throat, when stretched, greatly enlarge the mouth of the whale.

The amount of food required for such a giant is also impressive: a blue whale eats 4-8 tons of krill per day, about 40,000,000 individual crustaceans. This is 3-4% of the animal's body weight. Its stomach can hold about a ton of food.

Whales that come to feed in the Southern Hemisphere tend to be thin, but gain weight quickly. The duration of feeding is 120 days.

The blue whale is a cosmopolitan species. It is found in all expanses of the world's oceans. The northern and southern subspecies are more common in cold waters, while the pygmy blue whale lives in warm waters.

Common Blue Whale Species

Three subspecies are known for the blue whale:

Northern (Balaenoptera musculus musculus) - considered typical, as it was first described.

Southern (Balaenoptera musculus intermedia) - the most numerous, differs from the northern one in large size, but otherwise both of these subspecies are practically indistinguishable from each other.

Dwarf (Balaenoptera musculus brevicauda) or blue pygmy whale. A population of 10,000 individuals was discovered in the middle of the 20th century in the Indian Ocean and described as an independent subspecies. The average length of the pygmy blue whale is only 3 meters shorter than other subspecies. They are lighter in color, and the caudal fin is smaller. The body is thickened, teardrop-shaped, the baleen is shorter.

A manifestation of sexual dimorphism in the blue whale is that females are slightly larger than males.

The blue whale prefers to lead a solitary lifestyle, does not form herds, occasionally occurs in groups of 2-3 individuals. Only where there is a lot of food for the animal, it can form a large cluster of 50-60 individuals, but it will be scattered.

Compared to other cetaceans, the blue whale is slower and more clumsy. He leads a daytime lifestyle, and at night he practically does not move. Dives deep, up to 500 m. The average diving depth is 100-200 m, they last up to 20 minutes. The dive itself is slow, it takes about 8 minutes for the whale to dive to 140 m and then surface. After surfacing, the whale breathes frequently and releases fountains. Re-dive occurs after 10 minutes. In general, a whale spends about 94% of its time underwater.

At short distances, the blue whale develops a speed of up to 37 km / h, the maximum speed is 48 km / h, but the animal cannot swim like that for a long time. During feeding, the speed of the blue whale is 2-6 km / h.

The blue whale is a monogamous animal. It forms a pair for a long time, and the male and female are always nearby.

The blue whale breeds very slowly. Births take place every two years. The duration of pregnancy is 10-12 months. Usually one cub is born with a body length of 6-8.8 m and a weight of 2-3 tons. The birth of twins occurs in 1 case out of 100. Milk feeding lasts about 7 months. The kitten grows up to 16 m, and its weight during this period reaches 23 tons. The cub receives 90 liters of milk per day. Milk is very fatty (up to 50%), and rich in protein. The blue whale reaches sexual maturity at the age of 5-15 years.

Interestingly, the blue whale's birth rate skyrocketed in the 1930s, when its fishery and prey were at their peak. Perhaps this was the reaction of the animal to this process. And in the 1940s, when whaling was practically stopped due to the war, the birth rate, on the contrary, decreased.

Natural enemies for the blue whale are unknown due to its gigantic size. Occasionally, young individuals are attacked, only their flock of 5 to 30 individuals is able to attack and tear apart a young whale.

In the 20th century, the population began to decline sharply due to uncontrolled fishing. Much more fat and meat can be obtained from a single blue whale than from other species, and therefore it was a very popular target for fishing. In this regard, by the 1960s, the species was almost exterminated, it was on the verge of extinction. After the measures taken to protect the animal, it was possible to increase the population from 5,000 to 10,000 individuals, but protective measures still do not lose their relevance today. The main threat to the blue whale is anthropogenic influence, which is expressed in the disruption of the animal's lifestyle and pollution of the oceans. In addition, the natural reproduction of the species is very slow, and rapid population growth is impossible for this reason.

Determining the exact weight of a blue whale is a very difficult task, since whaling ships do not have the necessary equipment to weigh huge carcasses. Usually they are weighed in parts. According to one opinion, the blue whale has become somewhat smaller in recent years due to predatory fishing, their average length is now about 30 m, and earlier specimens of 35-37 meters were much more common.
Scientists attribute the large size of the blue whale to the uneven distribution of food in the oceans. Due to the large volume of the body, the animal is able to swallow a lot of food if its amount is plentiful around, but it can also survive for a long time in conditions of lack of food. The fat that the blue whale feeds allows it to go without food for several months.

Different representatives of the order of cetaceans have their own preferences and specializations in the diet. According to the types of main food, whales are divided into four groups:

planktophages - animals mainly feeding on plankton (small crustaceans);
teutophages - individuals of cetaceans whose diet is based on cephalopods of various sizes;
ichthyophages are whales that feed mainly on fish of various species;
sacrophages are representatives of the order of cetaceans, which are a kind of vegetarians, the basis of their diet is algae.

Individuals of the order of cetaceans consume food whole, without chewing, its daily requirement can reach a ton or more.

For different whales, the prey used for food can be both piece and mass. The pharynx of baleen whales is rather narrow, only plankton or small fish can pass through it, therefore these animals, the so-called "filterers", get food at the same time in significant quantities. To do this, a huge mammal wedges itself into a plankton colony - krill - and, opening its gigantic mouth, sucks in water along with crustaceans (plankton). With its very large tongue, having previously closed its mouth, the whale squeezes water through the whalebone. The water leaves, but the food remains. Such an operation, during the day, animals carry out repeatedly.

Toothed whales, the so-called "grabbers", get food by grabbing prey one by one, and hold it with their teeth or suck it in using their tongue. The basis of the diet of toothed whales is cephalopods and various types of fish. The sperm whale belonging to this group of whales has a pharynx of considerable size and could even swallow a person. This mammal, as a rule, obtains food at a considerable depth - more than one and a half kilometers - and squids form the basis of its diet. The only representatives of the order of cetaceans that constantly feed not only on cold-blooded, but also on warm-blooded animals, such as seals, birds and whales, are killer whales.

By the way, do you know

Cetaceans are the largest animals among all living on our planet: for example, adult blue whales have a body length of over twenty meters. The record holder among blue whales had this figure equal to thirty-three meters. The weight of an adult blue whale varies from ninety to one hundred and twenty tons.

In the waters of the icy Arctic seas, there are real sea unicorns - narwhals. However, the “horn” of the narwhal is not a horn at all, but the front left tooth, which in the process of evolution turned into a finely twisted tusk. Only male narwhals have such a “horn”.

See page: photos of whales.

plankton

baleen whale diet

Alternative descriptions

Countless aquatic life

Small organisms living in the water column (protozoa, algae, larvae, crustaceans, etc.)

The totality of animal and plant organisms that live in the water column and are carried by the force of the current

The totality of organisms that inhabit the water column and are carried by water currents

whale food

radiolarians

This product, which the Kon-Tiki team was supplied by the ocean, to Tur Heyerdahl tasted like lobster pate, and sometimes - caviar or oysters

Office "animals"

whale lunch

whale food

Countless marine life

What does the sperm whale eat?

The diet of mustachioed cues

whale food

Dish to the table of a baleen whale

Baleen whale meal

The totality of animal and plant organisms living in the water column and carried by the gravity of the current

The totality of organisms that live in the water column and are passively carried by the water current

Whales are the largest (the weight of an adult can exceed 150 tons), the longest (approximately 30-35 meters in length).

Photos of whales can not leave anyone indifferent.

baby whales

The tongue of a blue whale weighs 4 tons. That's about as much. how much does an elephant weigh. For example: if people want to climb this tongue, then at the same time 50 of them will satisfy their desire.

Already in ancient times it was known that these are mammals. They are warm-blooded and breathe air. These heaviest mammals have, albeit very tiny, but wool. They feed their babies with milk. These are facts known to all.

Whales can go without sleep for 100 days. They can live without food for 8 months. The most hardy - up to 10 months.
Scientists believe that all cetaceans, apparently, are secondary water: their ancestors once, about 50 million years ago, left the ocean waters, but in the process of evolution returned to the abyss of the oceans.

Pregnancy in females lasts 11 months. Whale cubs are born about 8 meters long and weighing 2-3 tons.

The most interesting thing is that the whale egg is no larger than the egg of a simple field mouse.

Whale songs

For the first half year of life, the kitten feeds on mother's milk. Every day the cub consumes approximately 350-390 liters of milk. In its half-year, the miracle baby reaches a size of 15 meters and a weight of about 20-25 tons.

The blood of cetaceans absorbs more oxygen than the blood of other mammals.

The oral cavity of cetaceans is not connected to the lungs. They inhale air, rising to the surface of the ocean: their lungs are saturated with oxygen, which subsequently, under water, is saturated with moisture and heats up. At the moment when the animals emerge, they exhale and hot air, in contact with cold air, forms a magnificent fountain of condensed steam.

A whale inhales 2000 liters of air in 1 second.

The bowhead whale blows a fountain up to 6 meters high!

whales

The largest whale is blue. For some reason, on several resources on the Internet, I was “lucky” to come across the wording “blue whale”. But this is so, digression from the topic.

Interestingly, the "blue" females are larger than the males.

The heart of the blue whale is the largest heart in the world! It is comparable in size to a car, and weighs approximately 600 or 700 kg.
A whale has 8,000 liters of blood, and the vessels in diameter are about the same as the diameter of a bucket of water.

A whale can not breathe for about 2 hours and during this time cover a huge distance under water!

fin whale

"The most high-calorie" - 8 million calories per day - that's how much one whale can absorb in one day. And it feeds mainly on krill. A ton of krill per day. Plus everything and everyone who gets into the mouth along with small crustaceans (krill).

Very small, sea-adapted eyes are able to withstand high pressure when the animal dives to great depths, large oily tears are released from the tear ducts, which help to see more clearly in the water and protect the eyes from the effects of salt. Whales do not have external ears, they hear with their lower jaws. From it, the sound goes through a special cavity to the middle and inner ear. Whales constantly listen because they have no sense of smell and poorly developed eyesight. Sound enables whales to navigate, communicate with each other and eat, although the exact purpose of the sounds produced by whales has not yet been clarified. Whales suffer greatly from the noise in the oceans that people produce.

Of all the mammals, only humans and whales sing songs.

The most talkative and singing whales are white. People affectionately call them "sea canaries" for their wide range of cooing and chirping sounds.

Whale songs are long and sonorous. The shortest aria lasts about 6 minutes. However, if no one interferes with singing, the whale's song can last for 30-40 minutes. Despite the fact that whales do not have vocal cords.

Quite interesting is the subspecies called the fin whale. These giants live in families of 5-8 individuals, and during the migration fin whales unite in groups of 200-250 individuals. The fin whale is perhaps the fastest of the marine mammals. The speed of its movement at the moment of danger can exceed 45 km / h. The fin whale can dive to a depth of 250 meters and stay there for 15 minutes. And fin whales can make sounds of such a low frequency that the human ear is simply not able to catch them.

The tail of a whale is as individual as a person's fingerprints. It is impossible to meet two identical tails.

Scars and grooves, cuts, spots of brown algae “draw” uniquely identifying “graffiti” on whale tails.

The blue whale weighs over 100 tons, and a truck could fit in its huge mouth! But, surprisingly, the main food of this giant is krill - small, shrimp-like marine crustaceans 1-6 cm in size. Krill form huge accumulations near the surface of the sea, and the blue whale can swallow a huge mass of these crustaceans in one fell swoop. In summer, an adult blue whale can eat 3 tons of krill per day! Over the summer, animals acquire a thick layer of subcutaneous fat, which will warm and support their body in winter, when krill becomes scarce in the seas.

Stretching, the throat folds increase the volume of the oral cavity of the minke whale during feeding.

Krill is the collective name for small marine planktonic shrimp-like crustaceans from the order Euphausiidae. Accumulations of krill reach a diameter of several kilometers of incredibly high density: in the volume of water with an ordinary bath contains about 50 thousand crustaceans!

A whale is a marine animal of the chordate type, class mammals, order cetaceans (Cetacea). The whale got its modern name, consonant in many languages, from the Greek word kitoc, literally meaning "sea monster".

Anatomically, the whale has teeth, but in some species they are in an undeveloped state. In toothless baleen whales, teeth are replaced by bony plates called baleen and adapted for filtering food.

And only representatives of toothed whales grow identical cone-shaped teeth.

The spine of a whale can contain from 41 to 98 vertebrae, and due to the spongy structure of the skeleton, elastic intervertebral discs give the body of animals special maneuverability and plasticity.

The cervical interception is absent, and the head smoothly passes into the body, which tapers noticeably towards the tail. The pectoral fins of the whale are modified and turned into flippers that perform the function of steering, turning and braking. The caudal region of the body is flexible and muscular, has a slightly flattened shape and acts as a motor. At the end of the tail there are blades that have a horizontal arrangement.

Most species of whales have an unpaired dorsal fin that acts as a stabilizer when moving in the water column.

The skin of the whale is smooth, hairless, only on the muzzle of baleen whales grow single hairs, bristles, similar to the whiskers of land animals.

The color of the whale is monophonic, spotted or anti-shadow, when the top of the animal is dark and the bottom is light. In some species, body color changes with age.

Due to the absence of olfactory nerves, whales have almost completely lost their sense of smell. Taste buds are poorly developed, therefore, unlike other mammals, whales distinguish only salty taste. The sight of whales is poor, for the most part these animals are short-sighted, but they have conjunctival glands that are absent in other animals.

In terms of whale hearing, the complex anatomy of the inner ear allows whales to distinguish between sounds ranging from 150 Hz to the lowest ultrasonic frequencies. And due to the richly innervated skin of all whales, they have an excellent sense of touch.

Whales communicate with each other. The absence of vocal cords does not prevent whales from talking and making special sounds with the help of an echolocation apparatus. The concave bones of the skull, together with the fat layer, act as a sound lens and reflector, directing a beam of ultrasonic signals in the right direction.

Most whales are quite slow, but if necessary, the speed of the whale can be 20 - 40 km / h.

The life expectancy of small whales is about 30 years, large whales live up to 50 years.

Where do whales live?

Whales live in all oceans. Most species of whales are herd animals and prefer to live in groups of several tens and even thousands of individuals. Some species are subject to constant seasonal migrations: in winter, whales swim to warm waters, where they give birth, and in summer they fatten in temperate and high latitudes.

What does a whale eat?

Most whales eat a certain type of food:

planktophages eat only plankton;
teutophages prefer to eat cephalopods;
ichthyophages eat only live fish;
saprophages (detritivores) consume decomposed organic matter.

And only one animal from the order of cetaceans, the killer whale, feeds not only on fish, but also on pinnipeds (seals, sea lions, penguins), as well as other whales, dolphins and their cubs.

A killer whale swims after a penguin

Types of whales with photos and names.

The modern classification divides the order of cetaceans into 2 main suborders:

toothless or mustachioed whales (Mysticeti);
toothed whales (Odontoceti), which include dolphins, killer whales, sperm whales and porpoises.

The cetacean order forms 38 genera, which combine over 80 known species. Among this diversity, several varieties can be distinguished:

, he is hunchback or long-armed minke whale(Megaptera novaeangliae)

got its name from the convex fin on the back, resembling a hump. The body length of the whale reaches 14.5 meters, in some specimens - 18 meters. The average weight of a humpback whale is 30 tons. The humpback whale differs from other representatives of the family of minke whales by a shortened body, a variety of colors and several rows of warty leathery protrusions on the top of the head. Humpback whales live throughout the world's oceans, except for the Arctic and Antarctic. Representatives of the North Atlantic population feed exclusively on fish: capelin, saffron cod, pollock, sardines, herring, haddock. The rest of the whales eat small crustaceans, various mollusks and small schooling fish.

Gray whale (California whale) (Eschrichtius robustus, Eschrichtius gibbosus)

the only whale of its kind that practices eating food from the bottom of the ocean: the animal plows the mud with a special keel-shaped outgrowth located under the lower jaw. The basis of the food of the gray whale is made up of many organisms that live on the bottom: annelids, snails, bivalves and other mollusks, amphipods, egg capsules and sea sponges, as well as small fish species. Gray whales at a mature age have a body length of up to 12-15 m, the average weight of a whale varies from 15 to 35 tons, and females are larger than males. The body is brown-gray or dark brown, reminiscent of rocky shores. This species of whale lives in the Sea of Okhotsk, Chukchi and Bering Seas, in winter it migrates to the Gulf of California and to the southern coast of Japan. Gray whales are record holders among animals for the duration of migrations - the distance covered by animals can reach 12 thousand km.

bowhead whale (polar whale) (Balaena mysticetus)

long-liver among mammals. The average age of the polar whale is 40 years, but the known scientifically based fact of longevity is 211 years. This is a unique species of baleen whale that spends its entire life in the cold waters of the Northern Hemisphere, often making its way like an icebreaker. The fountain of the whale rises up to 6 m in height. The body length of mature females reaches 20-22 meters, males - 18 meters. The weight of a whale is from 75 to 150 tons. The skin color of the animal is usually gray or dark blue. The belly and neck are lighter in color. An adult bowhead whale consumes almost 2 tons of different food every day, consisting of plankton (crustaceans and pteropods).

Sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus)

the largest representative of toothed whales, and females are much smaller than males and have a body length of no more than 15 meters. The male whale grows up to 20 meters in length. The maximum weight of females reaches 20 tons, males - 50 tons. Sperm whales have such a characteristic appearance that they cannot be confused with other cetaceans. The giant head is over 35% of the length of the body, and when viewed from the side, the snout of the sperm whale looks like a slightly beveled rectangle. In the recess at the bottom of the head there is a mouth, seated with 20-26 pairs of cone-shaped teeth. The weight of 1 whale tooth reaches 1 kilogram. The wrinkled skin of the sperm whale often has a dark gray color with a blue tint, although there are dark brown and even black individuals. As a predator, the sperm whale preys on squid, cuttlefish, large fish (including some types of sharks), and also swallows everything in the ocean: empty bottles, rubber boots, toys, coils of wire. Sperm whales live throughout the oceans, but are more common in tropical waters than in cool ones. Most of the population is distributed off the coast of the Black Continent and the eastern coast of Asia.

(Balaenoptera physalus)

the second largest animal on the planet. The length of an adult whale is 24-27 m, but due to its slender physique, the whale weighs only 40-70 tons. A distinctive feature of fin whales is the asymmetrical color of the muzzle: the right side of the lower jaw is white, and the left side is dark. The basis of the whale's diet is small crustaceans. Fin whales live in all oceans: in winter they inhabit the waters of moderately warm zones, and in the warm season they swim to the waters of the Arctic and Antarctic.

Blue whale (blue whale, vomited)(Balaenoptera musculus)

not only the largest whale in the world, but also the largest animal on our planet. The length of the blue whale can reach 33 meters, and the weight of the blue whale reaches 150 tons. This animal has a relatively slender build and a narrow muzzle. The color of the body within the species is monotonous: most individuals are gray with a blue tint and gray spots scattered throughout the body, making the skin of the animal look like marble. The blue whale feeds mainly on plankton and inhabits the entire oceans.

Pygmy whale (pygmy right whale, short-headed right whale)(caperea marginata)

the smallest species of the suborder of baleen whales. The body of an adult individual does not exceed 4-6 m in length, and the body weight of the whale barely reaches 3-3.5 tons. Skin color - gray with dark spots, sometimes black. It differs in an undulating way of movement unusual for whales, feeds on plankton. The pygmy whale is one of the rarest and least numerous species of whales, it lives mainly in the waters of southern Australia and New Zealand.

whale breeding

For the most part, whales are monogamous, and breed once every 2 years. Whales reach the ability to reproduce by 3-5 years, but physically mature only at the age of 12 years. The mating season is greatly extended in time, because the males are ready to mate for almost a whole year. Depending on the species, the pregnancy of a female whale lasts from 7 to 18 months. Non-migratory whales give birth in the summer, the rest swim to warm waters and give birth there.

Childbirth takes place in the water column, one cub is born, and it always goes tail first. The weight of a newborn whale is 2-3 tons, and its length is a quarter or even half the length of a female.

The baby whale can immediately move independently, but keeps close to the mother, in whom the maternal instinct prevails above others.

Whales feed their young underwater. Whale milk is extremely thick and high-calorie, with a fat content of up to 54%, and does not spread in water. The mother feeds the cub for an average of 4-7 months (sperm whales up to 13 months). The babies grow rapidly and, upon completion of breastfeeding, increase in size to half the original length. All this time, the males of most species of whales stay nearby and do not leave the family under any circumstances.

What is the difference between a whale and a sperm whale?

The sperm whale is a type of whale. It has its own specific features:

The head of a sperm whale with a huge square forehead occupies from 1/4 to 1/3 of the body length. The head of other whales is relatively small: from 1/5 to 1/9 of the body length. The exception is some representatives of baleen whales, such as the bowhead whale, southern right whale, whose head and body sizes are in the same proportion as that of sperm whales.
The nostrils of whales are shifted back and up. They can be paired (in baleen whales) or unpaired (one nostril) (in toothed whales). In the sperm whale, the nostrils are asymmetrical and shifted forward, while one of them performs a respiratory function, and with the help of the other it makes sounds.
The sperm whale belongs to the suborder of toothed whales, and its jaws are armed with numerous cone-shaped teeth. Mammals of the suborder of baleen whales instead of teeth have horny plates that replace teeth and are called baleen.
In sperm whales, a huge spermaceti organ is located in the head, filled with a fatty substance (spermaceti), which solidifies at low temperatures. It is assumed that this organ helps the animal to dive and rise to the surface. Unlike the sperm whale, other whales do not have such an organ.
Another difference is the dorsal fin. In whales, it is solitary. In sperm whales, it has an unusual structure for other whales - a small crest, followed by several of the same, only smaller.
The sperm whale is able to dive to a depth of 3000 m, which is much more compared to other whales. Under water, it is longer than not only other cetaceans, but also all living creatures on the planet that breathe atmospheric air.
The sperm whale, like other toothed whales, feeds mainly on cephalopods, in particular squids and, in smaller quantities, fish, including deep-sea fish, grabbing them with their jaws. Baleen whales feed on plankton, small fish and other small vertebrates, filtering them out of the water through their baleen.
The pregnancy of sperm whales is longer than that of other cetaceans, and lasts 16-18 months.
All whales feed their young underwater. After a certain interval of time, babies capture the mother's nipple for a few seconds. At the same time, the cubs of all whales hold it between the tongue and the top of the sky, and the baby sperm whale holds it in the corner of the mouth.
Sperm whales emit echolocation signals: clicks, crackles and creaks. Baleen whales, in which echolocation is not developed or is in its infancy, can make various sounds. For example, a growl, roar, moan, purr can be emitted by a bowhead whale; hunchback songs are similar to the sounds of wind instruments; the moans of the fin whale resemble the sound of a flute from high to low tones. Many representatives of toothed whales make the same sounds as sperm whales, but at the same time they are able to whistle, roar, and killer whales also scream like March cats.
Whales swim faster than sperm whales, reaching speeds of over 50 km/h. The maximum speed of sperm whales rarely exceeds 37 km/h, and generally does not exceed 10 km/h.

What is the difference between a killer whale and a whale?

The killer whale, like whales, belongs to the cetacean order, but it has certain features:

Killer whales differ from other whales in their high dorsal fin, reaching 1m in height. Moreover, males have a higher fin than females.
In killer whales, unlike other whales, the head shortens with age, and the tail section lengthens, that is, the tail grows faster than the head.
Whales feed on plankton, small vertebrates, fish, and cephalopods. Killer whales, which at a young age also eat fish and shellfish, later become real predators attacking warm-blooded animals. They eat sea lions, sea lions, elephant seals, porpoises, seals, walruses and even their fellow cetaceans. They swallow small prey whole, and large prey in large pieces.
Whales are rather melancholy and slow animals. These sometimes clumsy sea giants are ready to filter water for hours, extracting krill from it. The killer whale is a swift and very active predator, deftly hunting prey swimming nearby.
Killer whales are characterized by a strong attachment to each other and to the cubs, it is difficult to separate their flock. Many other whales are solitary or gather in small groups of 3-4 individuals.

For a long time, whales have been of great economic importance to humans. Bones and fat from the subcutaneous layers of the whale were boiled to obtain fat, which was used in the production of margarine, glycerin and was used in the soap industry.
Spermaceti, extracted from the head of sperm whales, is part of cosmetics, including decorative lipstick and various creams. Before the invention of polymers, whalebone was used to make corsets for women's dresses and springs for upholstered furniture.
From the secret of the pancreas of whales, insulin and other drugs are produced. Ambergris, found in the intestines of the sperm whale, is widely used in perfumery as a flavor stabilizer.
Uncontrolled whaling has inevitably led to the near extinction of many whale populations. To date, most of the species are listed in the International Red Book, and commercial whaling is prohibited by the laws of most civilized countries.