| WHALES |
There are different types of whales like
SPERM WHALE
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SIZE
Sperm whales are the largest toothed whales. Adult males
grow to be about 50-60 feet (17-20 m) long, weighing about 40-50 tons (36-45
tonnes). Females are smaller, about 33-40 feet (11-13 m) long, weighing about
14-18 tons. The four-chambered heart of the average sperm whale weighs about 277
pounds (126 kg) - about as much as two average adult human beings.
SKIN, SHAPE AND FINS
The skin is usually dark gray to black, but is
occasionally light gray. It has a distinctive, prune-like texture.
Sperm whales have the largest head of any animal. It can be about 20 feet long (6 m), 10 feet high (3 m), and 7 feet (2.1 m) across, and is about one-third of the whale's body length. The head has a distinctive box-like shape. The heads are frequently covered with circular scars that are made by the suckers of the giant squid that they hunt and eat.
It has 5-foot (1.5 m) long flippers that are about 3 feet (0.9 m) wide. There is no dorsal fin but there is a small hump two-thirds of the way down its back. There are also some ridges between the hump and the tail flukes.
SPOUTING-BREATHING
Whales breathe air at the surface of the water through a
single, s-shaped blowhole. The blowhole is located on the left side of the front
if its huge head. They spout (breathe) 3-5 times per minute at rest, but the
rate increases to 6-7 times per minute after a dive. The blow is a noisy, single
stream that rises up to 50 feet (15 m) above the surface of the water and points
forward and to the left of the whale at a 45° angle.
LIFE SPAN
Sperm whales have a life expectancy of over 70 years.
POPULATION COUNT
It is estimated that there are about 200,000 sperm whales
world-wide. Sperm whales are considered an endangered species. These whales (and
many other large whales) were over-hunted for many years, since their meat, oil,
and other body parts are very valuable. Since whale hunting has decreased in the
last few decades, their populations are starting to recover.
KILLER WHALES
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