Underwater World Journal - 11 interesting facts about whales

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11 interesting facts about whales

Friday, November 03, 2006 | Posted to Creatures of underwater

Whales are largest mammals on the planet. In this article we tell the fast most famous and interesting facts about this gorgeous sea creatures.

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Why whales and dolphins have horizontal caudal fin?

Sea mammals need constantly swim to surface to take deep breath. Horizontal flipper makes easier whale emersion to surface and allows this creatures to handle blowhole over the surface. Their blowhole is located in upper part of the head.

In what oceans whales can be found?

Whales can be found in all oceans all over the world and even in fresh waters. Majority of biggest species constantly migrate from ocean to ocean while seasons change. There are two groups of whales – north hemisphere group and south group hemisphere. Both groups grow posterity in winter time neat tropical coastal waters and in summer migrate to fattening to Antarctic or Antarctica. This way migrates fin whales and humpback whales.

To what sizes whales do grow?

After birth blue whale run up to 7 meters in length. After 13 years it reaches a point of maturity and becoming 30 meters length and weight near 150 tons. Heart of blue whale weights 0,5 tons and pumps 8 tons of blood, developing 10 horse-powers.

How long whales live?

The best gauge of whale’s age serves consecutive layers on their teeth and in ear taps. Some scientist think that for one year one layer appear, another consider a little bit more. Anyway have been discovers that fin whale live 80-90 years on average.

What whales do feed on?

Toothed whales feed on fish and cephalopods. To this group belong cachalot – it tooth weight over 300 grammas. Orca whales feed by eating fish, penguins, seals, sharks and dolphins. Other whales feed on tiny plankton. In a 24 hours whales eat several tons of food.

At what speed whales can swim?

Blue whale which length is 30 meters can swim at speed near 23.0 MPH. Dolphins can reach speed of 28.0 MPH.

On what depth can dive whales?

Whales feed on plankton do not need to dive deeper 100 meters, because their food is concentrated in upper oceanic layers. Toothed whales hunting their preys dive much deeper. Sometimes whales entangled in bottom cables and this fact allow do determine exact diving depth. The record on such depths is 1110 meters.

Why whale do not afraid caisson disease?

Toothed whales can swiftly dive on depths near 1 kilometer, experiencing pressure fall amount about 100 atmospheres. But unlike human scuba diver breathing high pressure mixed gas, whale inhale air on the surface and dive holding his breath. These way only small amounts of nitrogen dissolve in creature blood and tissues.

Do whales sleep?

Whales are mammals, that why they need at regular intervals float to the surface and inhale fresh air. Also they need to maintain certain lung volume to ensure floatation of their huge bodies. That’s why whales do not sleep as deep as humans. Narcotized to put in sleep, whale sink or stop breathing and then perish.

What is whalebone?

Whiskered whales do not have teeth but they have a special plates hanging from upper mandible, through which it filter sea water to collect plankton. This solid and flexible plates in the past where used to produce corsets.

What is ambergris?

This substance form in cachalot bowels and two pounds of ambergris cost from $70 to $400. Ambergris look like a black stone. Cachalot vomits it from his stomach and then ambergris is found on beach, but commonly it is harvested from harpooned creatures. Ambergris mainly used in perfumery while producing expensive perfumes. Chunks of this organic material weight from few grams to 400 kilogram’s.

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