Page 13 - Whales and Dolphins

A whale's diet differs among species. Toothed whales and
dolphins feed on mollusks, fish and small marine organisms,
whereas baleen whales have no teeth and feed on weeds and
marine plankton. Their preference of habitats, that can range from
shallow protected waters to the deep, offshore, depends on their
physiology, their need for protection from predators, the source of
their food and their hunting skills.

Whales, like other mammals, give birth after a long gestation
period. Their “calf” or calves feed on their mother’s milk, and the
female whale is known to nurse her calves for years. Breathing
involves expelling air from the blowhole, forming a strong spout,
followed by inhaling fresh air into the lungs.

Marine mammals have an extraordinarily high hearing range.
They can hear a wide range of both low and high-pitched sounds,
including many that are far beyond our own, human audible
range. For communications, they use sound waves, sending out
clicks and whispers by using an organ found in their foreheads
known as a ‘melon’ that consists of a dispose tissue or body fat.
Their melon directs sounds forward, helping to locate objects
under the surface while floating, whilst they use their sound
waves, such as sonar and radar, to echolocate food and navigate
during their long migrations.

Among the more well-known characteristics of whales and
dolphins is their highly efficient ability to swim and leap that’s
made possible due to their streamlined and smooth bodies,
along with their strong fins that help them to maintain stability,
rotate easily and keep balance. With the immense relative size of
their brains, they are recognized to be highly intelligent
creatures.

10