GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: ORDER CETACEA GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: Spend entire lives at sea Stream-lined bodies (convergent evolution)

Breathe air through blowhole

Front flippers; tail = “fluke”

Blubber for insulation Slow reproductive rate; 1 calf / 2-3 years Beluga & Calf

MYSTICETI (BALEEN WHALES) “Moustached” – baleen plates hang from upper lip Flexible, fibrous plates of keratin to strain water

Baleen

Baleen Whale The images above show a cross section through the head of a generalized baleen whale where the baleen appears yellow, pink areas are the tongue and associated muscles, black dots represent food items. Water and food pours into the mouth as the mouth is opened (left); the mouth is shut part way, the tongue is expanded to push out the water, while food items, unable to escape through the baleen, are trapped (right).

Eat krill, small fish, crustaceans

2 Blowhole openings

Rorquals – grooves along throat/chest to expand Ex: humpback, finback

Humpbacks Feeding

Humpbacks Size: 40-50 ft

Body black, often w/barnacles Flippers to 15 ft; white underneath; used to ID

Behaviors: Breaching

Flipper Slapping

Lob-tailing

Feeding with Bubble Net Whales swim in circle blowing bubbles trapping fish inside “net”, then swim up center

Swim through school & engulf food & water Lunge Feeding Swim through school & engulf food & water

Known for elaborate songs http://www.acsonline.org/factpack/humpback.htm

“Greyhounds of the Sea” – to 20mph Lifespan 90-100yrs 2nd Largest animal on Earth – to 85 ft

Fin Whale Distribution

Blue Whale Largest animal; 100 ft

Person standing between blue whale jaw bones

Blue Whale

Blue Whale Range

Right Whale Carcasses float; slow “Upside-down smile” Most endangered Size: to 30-50 ft

ODONTOCETI (TOOTHED WHALES) Teeth to catch & hold prey; swallowed whole Eat fish, squid, seals

Single blowhole opening

Often travel in pods

Ex: SPERM WHALE Largest toothed whale (40-60ft); feed on Giant Squid; dive deep

Orca or Killer Whale Spyhopping

Dolphins: beak & conical teeth Porpoises: blunt head & flat teeth

Echolocation Sounds sent from sacs in head (melon) Received through jaw to inner ear (like SONAR) Used for navigation, socialization, predation