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Our Aquatic Giants: The Anatomy of a Whale
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As our largest marine mammals, whales are probably one of the most fascinating animals on earth. They are also among the most studied, and research on the world's whale species is now assisting scientists to learn more about things such as global warming, marine wildlife migration patterns, oceanography and even atmospheric science.
But it is not only scientists that are enamoured with these aquatic giants. Whale watching holidays to places as diverse as Sri Lanka, Norway and the Azores are favored by nature lovers searching for a close encounter, while wildlife documentaries like Sir David Attenborough's stunning Blue Planet 2 bring the wonders of ocean's cetacean species to vivid life in the comfort of our own homes.

Teeth and Baleen

You can find two suborders of whales: toothed and baleen. The baleen species are generally bigger than their toothed counterparts, and instead of teeth they will have multiple plates hanging from their upper jaw, consisting of a flexible apparatus called baleen. Baleen allows the pet to filter feed, which they do by taking in vast quantities of water through their mouths then expelling it. Plankton along with other small organisms are trapped behind the baleen and ingested.

The toothed species are predatory and, while they use their teeth to fully capture and kill their prey (which includes sea lions, seal, fish and, sometimes, other whales), they swallow it whole.

Blowholes

As the structure of a whale is similar to a fish plus they spend around 90% of their own time underwater, because they are mammals they require oxygen to survive. They use their blowholes to take air into their lungs and, unlike fish along with other marine animals that have gills to extract oxygen from the water, they must come to the surface of the water to breathe. Baleen species have two blowholes located close to each other, while toothed species have just one single.

Fins, Flukes and Flippers

Fins, flukes (the tail) and flippers all serve another purpose. The dorsal fin is used for stabilisation, the flippers are used to navigate and perform acrobatic displays, and the fluke can be used to propel them through the water. Not absolutely all species have a dorsal fin, but for those that do t here exists a huge variation in size and shape. The flippers also vary in size between the species and so are vital in controlling how deep they dive.

Eyes and Ears

The eyes and ears are uniquely adapted alive under the surface of the ocean. The eyes have become small and, while relied on lessthan other senses, they are certainly with the capacity of sight, with a depth of vision up to about 35 feet. They will have glands that secrete an oil to flush away salt and ocean debris.

The ears are one of their most significant senses and are vital to communication. They vary slightly between your baleen and toothed species, with the former's including a waxy plug to protect the ear canal but also reducing aural capacity. Toothed species do not have the plug and their ear bones are encased in foam round the skull, which affords improved hearing to aid in hunting.

Blubber

As warm-blooded mammals, all species have a thick, insulating layer of blubber beneath their top layer of skin. Not merely does the blubber maintain their body heat and protect their organs from the extreme cold of their oceanic habitat, it also acts as a defence against predators.

Come Face to Face with Nature

Responsible, well-organised whale watching holidays are the best way to come face to face with one of these majestic marine creatures. Led by experienced naturalists, the best whale watching holidays take participants to wildlife hotspots in a few of the very most cetacean-rich oceans on earth.

Author Plate

Marissa Ellis-Snow is a freelance nature writer with a special interest in whale watching. As a passionate lover ofmarine wildlife, Marissa chooses the expert-led whale watching holidaysorganised by Naturetrek, which have brought her unforgettable sightings of an array of wildlife in some of the very most spectacular regions on Earth.

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