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whales

There are about 86 species of whales, dolphins and porpoises in the Order Cetacea, which is further divided into two sub-orders, the Odontocetes, or toothed whales and the Mysticetes, or baleen whales. Cetaceans can differ greatly in their appearance, distribution, and behavior.

The Bryde's (pronounced "broodus") whale is named for Johan Bryde, who built the first whaling stations in South Africa. These whales are 40-55 feet long and weigh up to about 45 tons. They are found most frequently in tropical and subtropical waters. There may be two Bryde's whale species - a coastal species (which would be called Balaenoptera edeni) and an offshore form ( Balaenoptera brydei).

Whales are a widely distributed and diverse group of fully aquatic placental marine mammals. They are an informal grouping within the infraorder Cetacea, usually excluding dolphins and porpoises. Wikipedia Lifespan: Killer whale: 29 years, Humpback whale: 45 – 50 years, MORE Gestation period: Killer whale: 15 – 18 months, MORE Encyclopedia of Life Mass: Killer whale: 3,600 – 5,400 kg, MORE Encyclopedia of Life Length: Killer whale: 6 – 8 m, Humpback whale: 15 – 16 m, MORE Encyclopedia of Life

The gray whale is a medium-sized baleen whale with a beautiful gray coloration that has white spots and patches. This species has been divided into two population stocks, one of which has recovered from the brink of extinction, and one that is nearly extinct.

The common name of the whale comes from the gray patches and white mottling on its dark skin. Gray whales were once called devil fish because of their fighting behavior when hunted.

Unlike fish and other aquatic species that are equipped with gills (which allow them to extract oxygen directly from the water) whales must come to the surface to breathe. In order to inhale and exhale air whales breathe through their blowhole(s) which are located on the top of the whales head.

The southern right whale is a large, bulky-looking baleen whale that reaches lengths of 45-55 feet and weights up to 60 tons. They have the curious habit of "sailing" in strong winds by lifting its huge tail flukes above the water surface. Like many other large whale species, the southern right whale migrates between warmer, low-latitude breeding grounds and colder, high-latitude feeding grounds. Their breeding grounds are fairly distinct, and include South Africa, Argentina, Australia, and parts of New Zealand.

Minke whales are small, but still about 20-30 feet long. There are three subspecies of minke whale - the North Atlantic minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata acutorostrata), the North Pacific minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata scammoni), and the dwarf minke whale (whose scientific name has not yet been determined).

The humpback whale is known as the "big-winged New Englander" because it has long pectoral fins, or flippers, and the first humpback scientifically described was in New England waters. Its majestic tail and variety of spectacular behaviors make this whale a favorite of whale watchers. Humpbacks are a medium-sized baleen whale and have a thick blubber layer, making them clumsier in appearance than some of their more streamlined relatives. However, they are still well-known for their spectacular breaching behavior, which involves the whale jumping out of the water. The exact reason for this behavior is still unknown.

The humpback whale is a species of baleen whale. One of the larger rorqual species, adults range in length from 12–16 m and weigh about 36,000 kg. The humpback has a distinctive body shape, with long pectoral fins and a knobbly head. Wikipedia Scientific name: Megaptera novaeangliae Mass: 30,000 kg (Adult) Encyclopedia of Life Lifespan: 45 – 50 years Conservation status: Least Concern (Population increasing) Encyclopedia of Life Length: Female: 15 – 16 m (Adult), Male: 13 – 14 m (Adult) Did you know: Male humpbacks produce a long series of calls that are normally heard during the winter breeding season, although songs have been recorded in the summer. panda.org

Humpback whales are so called because of the habit of raising and bending the back in preparation for a dive, accentuating the hump in front of the dorsal fin.

Humpback whales (like all baleen whales) are seasonal feeders and carnivores that filter feed tiny crustaceans (krill - mainly Euphausia superba, copepods, etc.), plankton, and small fish (including herring, mackerel, capelin, and sandeel) from the water.