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Whales

Whales

The largest mammal on the planet is the water-dwelling whale, even larger than the largest of the dinosaurs. There are many different types of whales, ranging in size from the dwarf, or pigmy, sperm whale, that is 8.5 feet long up to the blue whale, that is about 115 feet in length. The blue whale was about the same length as a Brachiosaurus, yet the whale's weight is about 170–190 tons, while in comparison the Brachiosaurus weighed only about 70-80 tons.

Top Questions Asked on ChaCha.com for Whales

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  1. How has molecular evidence helped support fossil evidence in determining the early ancestor of modern-day whales?

    As long ago as 1950, scientists using immunological methods o...

  2. How do killer whales show they care about each other?

    The killer whale (Orcinus orca), commonly referred to as the ...

  3. How do killer whales eat?

    Orca or killer whales eat fish & squid much the way you eat y...

  4. What do killer whales eat?

    Killer whales are known to eat fish, squid, seals, sea lions,...

  5. What do blue whales eat?

    Krill is the Blue whales favorite food .They can eat up to 4 ...

  1. What do whales use to break down their food?

    When whales swallow food, it travels through the esophagus to...

  2. How has molecular evidence helped support fossil evidence in determining the early ancestor of modern-day whales?

    As long ago as 1950, scientists using immunological methods o...

  3. What are whales teeth called?

    Whales teeth are called, teeth! Some whales have brush like t...

  4. Do whales sleep upside down?

    When whales sleep, they float vertically underwater, with the...

  5. How do killer whales show they care about each other?

    The killer whale (Orcinus orca), commonly referred to as the ...

  1. What do blue whales eat?

    Krill is the Blue whales favorite food .They can eat up to 4 ...

  2. What did whales evolve from?

    The Evolution of the Whale: This is a story of an ancient lan...

  3. What do killer whales eat?

    Killer whales are known to eat fish, squid, seals, sea lions,...

  4. What is a herd of whales called?

    A group of whales can be called a float, gam, grind (bottle-n...

  5. How long is a blue whales pregnancy?

    Females give birth to calves every two to three years. They r...

Top Questions Asked on ChaCha Mobile for Whales

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  1. Do whales have hair?

    Hi there! Yes, whales do indeed have hair, it is one of the t...

  2. What do whales eat?

    Tooth whales eat schooling fishes, squid, and marine mammals ...

  3. What is another name for killer whales?

    The majority of scientists label killer whales as Orcinus orc...

  4. Do whales sleep?

    Whales are conscious breathers. The solution is to let 1 half...

  5. What is a herd of whales called?

    A group of whales can be called a float, gam, grind (bottle-n...

  1. Do whales sleep?

    Whales are conscious breathers. The solution is to let 1 half...

  2. Are whales mammals?

    Yes, whales are mammals, who are classified as marine mammals...

  3. Do whales have hair?

    Hi there! Yes, whales do indeed have hair, it is one of the t...

  4. How long can killer whales hold their breath?

    Killer Whales have been observed diving and holding their bre...

  5. What do whales eat?

    Tooth whales eat schooling fishes, squid, and marine mammals ...

  1. What is a herd of whales called?

    A group of whales can be called a float, gam, grind (bottle-n...

  2. Are whales mammals?

    Yes, whales are mammals, who are classified as marine mammals...

  3. Are killer whales mean?

    Wild Killer Whales are usually not considered a threat to hum...

  4. What are whales used for?

    Soap and margarine. Whales were used to make these products a...

  5. Do narwall whales kill people?

    Yes, narwhal whales have been known to kill whalers with thei...

About Whales

Of the different types of whales, there are two different suborders, which are Odontoceti and Mysticeti. The Odontoceti includes sperm whale, killer whale, pilot whale, and beluga whale. It also includes dolphins and porpoises. Killer and pilot whales are more closely related to the dolphin and porpoise than actual whales. These sea creatures have teeth and tend to hunt for their food. The Mysticet whales don't have teeth and filter feed, swallowing tiny sea creatures, like krill and plankton. This group includes the blue whale, bowhead, humpback, and minke whales.

Whales tend to live in groups which are called pods, gams, or schools. They display social behaviors and are curious about their surroundings. Many will approach humans and ships. This can lead to dangerous encounters, but whale attacks in nature are rare and usually as a result of being frightened or simply accidental.

People have a long history with whales, but it wasn't always a good relationship. The whaling industry almost devastated the whale population, however limited whaling is still allowed in cultures where the whales have been hunted traditionally. Whales have been central to many works of art, including literature, like Moby Dick, and movies. The whale is even mentioned in the Bible, most famously for the story of Jonah being swallowed by a whale, however many scholars feel that is better translated as a large fish.

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Whales