1. Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises
Whales, dolphins and porpoises are cetaceans (Class Mammalia, Order Cetacea)
Of all the marine mammals, cetaceans (and sirenians) have made the most complete transition to aquatic life
Spend their entire lives in the water
The bodies of cetaceans are streamlined and look remarkably fish-like; an example of convergent evolution

2. Whales, Dolphins, and Porpoises
Blubber provides cetaceans with insulation
Cetacean nostrils are on top of the head, forming a single, or double opening called the blowhole

3. Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises
There are ~90 species of cetaceans
All are marine, except for 5 species of freshwater dolphins
Cetaceans are divided into two groups:
Toothed whales – includes dolphins & porpoises
Baleen whales; toothless, filter-feeding whales
Photos property of the Riverhead Foundation

6. Cetaceans: Toothed Whales
The majority of cetaceans are toothed whales
Toothed whales use their teeth only to catch and hold prey, not to chew it
Toothed whales have a single blowhole (one opening) on the top of their head
Though they are all whales, most of the small toothed whales are called dolphins or porpoises
Photo property of the Riverhead Foundation

7. Is it a dolphin or a porpoise?
The six species of porpoises are blunt-nosed whales, having flattened teeth
The many more species of dolphins possess a distinctive snout or ‘beak’ and have conical teeth
Porpoise
(Family Phocenidae)
Dolphin
(Family Delphinidae)

8. The Toothed Whale Whales
The toothed “whales” include the sperm whale, beluga, pilot whales, beaked whales, and orca, each divided into their own families

9. A bottlenose whale? Yes!

10. Echolocation

11. Baleen Whales Toothless whales are best known as baleen whales
Instead of teeth, they have rows of flexible plates, or baleen, which hang down from the upper jaws
Baleen is made of keratin
The inner edge of each plate consists of hair-like bristles that overlap and form a dense mat

12. Baleen whales

13. Baleen Whales

14. Baleen Whales
Baleen whales are characterized not only by their baleen, but by the double opening of their blowholes (double blowhole)
Photo property of the Riverhead Foundation

15. Humpback whales:

16. Biome
Humpback whales live in all oceans but are uncommon in artic regions. During summer months they migrate to higher altitudes.

17. Description Dark gray to black on their backs
white patterns on their stomach.
Chunky, Heavy bodied
They can weigh tons.
They are usually feet in length.
Robust body
Fewer throat grooves
Dorsal fin that varies in shape and size
Very long white flippers
Knob- like bumps on head and snout each holding 1 hair
Size related to a bus:

18. Diet Humpback whales are omnivores. They will eat:
Tiny shrimplike krill
Plankton
Small fish

19. Young (Offspring) Baby humpback whales are called calves. (calf)
They are 15 feet at birth.
Humpback whales calf every year. Sometimes about 2-3 years.
Births between January and March
Gestation takes months
Nurses for about 1 year
Don’t stop growing until 10 years old

20. Predators
Humpback whales have only 1 predator, humans.

21. There is an estimated 25,000 to 30,000 left.
Remaining Population
Status: Endangered
There is an estimated 25,000 to 30,000 left.

22. Reasons It’s Endangered
Humpback whales are endangered because of:
Whale Hunting (Humans)
Getting tangled in fishing equipment.
Collisions with ships
Acoustic disturbance
Habitat degradation

23. Conservation Measures
Humpback whales gained protection in 1962 through the International Whaling Commission. Since then they have shown signs of recovery in the North Atlantic.

24. Fun Facts Humpback whales have 2 blowholes.
The hotline number for reporting stranded animals is (631)
They do vocalizations to communicate with each other.
Female Humpback Whale helping calf to the surface.

25. Vocalizations
Humpback whales communicate by doing vocalizations.