Imagine: a huge ten-story building suddenly came to life and floats in the sea, releasing fountains. Sometimes he jumps out of the water and falls back, throwing up tons of splashes into the air. Such a spectacle is worth a lot!

Where is the best place to go in order to capture on film and in memory a miracle of nature - a whale in its natural habitat?

Russia, Kola Peninsula

In May, cod spawns off the coast of the Kola Peninsula. The whales know this and come here in hopes of a feast. If you go out into the open sea, it is easy to see sperm whales and minke whales; their populations are numerous. And if you're lucky, you might spot a bowhead whale, a bleach whale, a narwhal, a highbrow bottlenose whale, and a sei whale.

Place: Russia, Kola Peninsula

Season: May

Whales: three species of odontocetes and six species of mouth whales

Russia, Shantar Islands

Ongachan Bay on the Shantar Islands is home to killer whales and friendly whales. You can observe them directly from the shore without going out to sea. Belugas, killer whales, gray, Japanese and bowhead whales come here to feed. Now on the islands you can only see workers of the weather station, numerous bird colonies and seal rookeries. But once upon a time, whalers lived here. In the middle of the 20th century, it was even believed that the populations of gray and polar whales on Shantar were completely destroyed. But the ban on whaling allowed them to recover. Entire pods (about 10 individuals at a time) of gray whales pass just a few meters from the shore, so you can definitely see them.

Gray whales also greet cruise ship passengers a little further north, off the coast of Kamchatka and Wrangel Island.

Place: Russia, Shantar Islands

Season: July-August

Whales: whales and killer whales

Russia, Solovetsky Islands

White whales are an unforgettable sight! It is worth traveling to the north of Russia to see this most beautiful creature. Snow-white giants can appear to you in all their charm just 15 meters from Beluzhey Cape. This place does not yet have a developed tourist infrastructure, but the fame of white whales is making the cape increasingly popular for ecotourism lovers.

People call the beluga whale “singing.” This is a cautious creature with a limited habitat, so before you head out to admire the white whale, read as much as you can about it.

Place: Russia, Beluga Cape

Season: summer, low tide

Whales: beluga whale

South Africa

Believe it or not, whales have their own festival. It takes place in a small bay in the city of Hermanus. This is where whales come to give birth to their babies and stay here until the babies grow up.

There are observation decks on the cliffs and rocks of the shore, from which you can clearly see all the somersaults and pirouettes of the whales in the bay, and sometimes about 20 whales are having fun with jumps and fountains at once! In addition, boat excursions are organized that allow you to admire these giants up close.

This undoubtedly attracts tourists from all over the world. So a unique profession has appeared in the city, the name of which can be translated into Russian roughly as “whale keeper.” His task is to observe and then notify where and when these magnificent creatures of nature can be seen.

Place: South Africa, Hermanus

Season: July-November

Whales: southern whale, humpback whale and many other species

Spain

The Bay of Biscay will not disappoint your expectations and will definitely give you a meeting with a whale. The large amount of plankton in the water provides excellent dining for the giants. Since whale hunting has been banned, this is a paradise for them.

Since about 1996, special sea tours have been organized here to observe and study marine life. The whales feel right at home here and can be observed from the ferry and, at certain times of the year, from the shore. So, buen provecho, dear whale, while we admire you.

Location: Spain, Bay of Biscay

Season: August-September

Whales: killer whales, sperm whales, fin whales and other species

New Zealand

There is no need to choose a suitable season for watching whales; it can be done at any time of the year. You just have to go to the South Island and go to the bay. Kaikoura, whales, sperm whales, killer whales - everything here starts with the letter “k”.

Cold and warm currents, lots of plankton and small fish - whales think this is ideal for them. Summer lasts from October to March, so if you want to bask in the gentle sun, this is the best time to visit the island. Killer whales and humpback whales prefer the summer, and sperm whales drift along the coast of the South Island year-round.

Place: New Zealand, Kaikura

Season: all year round

Whales: killer whales, humpback whales, sperm whales

California

It's not for nothing that California is considered one of the best places for whale watching. This is where those who want to see the largest whale – the blue one – should hurry. But tourists are more attracted to gray whales - they are famous for their friendliness to humans.

They swim so close that you can see them in detail and even stroke them. Thrill-seekers go on small boats to meet the whale. Sometimes whales even play with such a boat - for them it really is the size of a toy.

And in 2014, biologists noticed that the number of whales in the bays of California had increased to a record level. So far, no explanation has been found for this phenomenon. The number of whales and other representatives of marine fauna is still at a high level.

Place: USA, Baja Peninsula, California

Season: all year round, early February - late April

Whales: gray, humpback, blue, hay whales, sperm whales

Azores

See the mating games of whales - what could be more interesting? Giants often spend their honeymoon near. The center attracts more than 20 species of these amazing creatures, including the blue whale.

Previously, whales were the main fishery of the islanders. And now professional sailor guides invite you to hunt a whale only with a camera.

Place: Azores, o. San Miguel

Season: April-early October

Whales: toothed whales, sperm whales, northern bottlenose whales and more than 20 species

Iceland

In order to count on meeting a whale, you only need to come to the northeast coast. But to be even more reliable, it’s worth visiting the capital of whales – the city of Husavik.

Skjalfandi Bay has long been considered one of the favorite places of these sea giants. Here you can see killer whales playing with their calves, throwing them high into the air with their heads. And if you are especially lucky, you will be able to hear the songs of humpback whales, which occupy the top of the charts among marine life.

Whales sing during mating season. At this time they usually leave for warmer waters. But sometimes, in a particularly romantic mood, they can perform their song in the off-season.

Place: Iceland, Husavik city

Season: April-October

Whales: killer whales, humpbacks, minke whales, blue whales

Norway

If you want to watch whales hunt schools of fish, look no further than Norway. Be prepared for the fact that the Lofoten Islands are located beyond the Arctic Circle. The warm Gulf Stream provides a fairly mild climate there, but sun lovers will not find the usual comfort here.

But the landscapes of the islands are simply magnificent - rocks rising straight out of the water in the bays, snow-white sand in emerald bays. Mysterious uninhabited islands, centuries-old trees - everything around enchants and calls for adventure. The waters of the islands are full of herring, a favorite delicacy of sperm whales and killer whales. So you can witness a magnificent spectacle: whales hunting for prey.

Place: Norway, Lofoten Islands

Season: winter

Whales: bowhead whale, sperm whale, Biscay whale, blue whale, minke whale and killer whale

Vancouver Island

The whale migration near Vancouver Island resembles a procession or parade. The giants swim importantly, very close to the shore, deftly and gracefully, it is possible to see them in detail even from the coast.

You can enjoy this spectacle for hours, it is so mesmerizing. And if you go on a tourist boat, you will have the opportunity to enjoy the view of the island from the ocean and admire the snow-white enchanted mountain peaks.

Place: Canada, o. Vancouver

Season: March-October

Whales: killer whales, gray whales, blue whales, humpback whales and many other species

Argentina

Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Valdez Peninsula is not just beautiful, it is unique. After all, elephant seals and eared seals live here - the rarest animals. Southern right whales, giants 14 meters long, inspire admiration for their grace and harmonious forms.

They come to the peninsula to give birth to their young, especially in October. But at other times of the year you can enjoy the spectacle of whales playing in the sun. Beautiful nature, rare animals, the endless blue ocean - you are guaranteed a wide range of impressions!

Place: Argentina, Chubut province, Valdez Peninsula

Season: June-December

Whales: southern right whales, killer whales


baleen whales

Blue whale. The largest animal on the planet. It can reach a length of 33 m and a weight of 150 tons. Cubs are born with a length of 6 to 8.8 m and a weight of 2-3 tons. Blue whales are found in almost all areas of the World Ocean, with the exception of the tropical zone. In the Northern Hemisphere, they winter at the latitudes of Southern Japan, California, North Africa, and the Caribbean Sea. In the Southern Hemisphere, animals spend the winter at the latitudes of Australia, Peru, South Africa, and Madagascar. In summer, blue whales prefer the cool waters of the Antarctic, North Atlantic, Bering and Chukchi seas. Fishing has been prohibited since 1965.

Fin whale. The second largest whale found in the World Ocean. The maximum length reaches 29 m. The weight of adult animals is usually about 50 tons. A characteristic external species feature of the fin whale is the asymmetry of the color of the side of the head: the lower right jaw is a quarter white, like the belly, and on the left side it is all dark, like the head.

Fin whales live almost everywhere, from the Arctic to the Antarctic, excluding the equator zone. Even in winter they do not descend south of 30°N. and do not rise north of 20-25 o S. There are more fin whales in the Southern Hemisphere than in the Northern Hemisphere. In Russian waters, minke whales of this species are found most often in the Bering and Chukchi Seas, less often in the Okhotsk and Japan Seas, and very rarely in the Barents and White Seas. In addition, several cases of fin whales entering the Kara and Baltic Seas have been recorded. Fishing is prohibited.

Sei whale (sai whale). The third largest whale in the world's oceans. the average length in the Northern Hemisphere is 13-14 m, in the Southern Hemisphere - 14.6-15.5 m, and the maximum - 18 and 19 m, respectively. Females begin to give birth to 4-5 meter cubs from the age of 10 years.

This species of minke whale also lives everywhere, but unlike blue whales and fin whales, it prefers warmer temperate latitudes and does not penetrate far into the cold waters of the Northern Hemisphere. In the Pacific Ocean, it is distributed from the island of Taiwan and the coastal waters of Southern Japan to the northern Bering Sea. In the Atlantic, sei whales live from the Canary Islands and the coast of Florida to the northern shores of Norway, Spitsbergen, Iceland, Labrador and Newfoundland, and sometimes enter the Mediterranean Sea. In the Southern Hemisphere, unlike the Northern Hemisphere, sei whales reach the edge of the ice that encircles the ice continent. Fishing is limited.

Small minke whale (minke whale). The smallest representative of the minke whale family, 7-10 m long and weighing 7-9 tons . Often has a white transverse stripe on the pectoral fins. Widely distributed in temperate and cold waters of the World Ocean. In the Southern Hemisphere it is found everywhere in these zones, and in the Northern Hemisphere it prefers the Pacific Ocean: the Chukchi Sea, right up to the ice zone; East China, Yellow, Japan, Okhotsk and Bering Seas, waters of Japan, Kuril and Aleutian Islands, coast of the USA and Canada. In the North Atlantic, Minke whales are found from the Mediterranean Sea and the Florida coast to Labrador, Baffin Bay and Davis Strait, as well as up to 70°N. on the east coast of Greenland, off the island of Spitsbergen, in the Norwegian, North, Barents, White and Kara seas. Fishing is limited.

Humpback whale (humpback). The most exotic of the minke whale family. With a body length of up to 18 m, it is distinguished by huge 4-5-meter tuberous pectoral fins, a hump-shaped dorsal fin and a head covered with three to five rows of large warts.

Distributed throughout the World Ocean from the Arctic to the Antarctic, migrates in the coastal zone in the North Pacific Ocean from the Chukchi Sea to the coasts of California and Mexico, from Alaska and Kamchatka to Taiwan. In the North Atlantic, humpback whales are found from Spitsbergen, Novaya Zemlya to North-West Africa and the Cape Verde Islands, as well as from Greenland and Iceland to the Antilles. In the Southern Hemisphere, these whales migrate from the coast of Antarctica north to Chile and Peru, Angola, Congo, Madagascar and New Zealand. Fishing for humpback whales has been prohibited since 1963.

Bowhead whale. The fattest representative of the cetacean order. Reaches a length of 15-18 m (sometimes up to 21 m), a mass of 150 tons. The head makes up 1/3 of the body length. The dorsal fin is missing. Adheres to surface layers of water. When floating up, it “exhales” up to 12 forked fountains within 1-3 minutes, and then dives again for 5-10 minutes. Females give birth to one cub every 3-6 years. It lives in Arctic waters in three local herds: off the island of Spitsbergen in the Barents Sea, off the western coast of Greenland, in the north Pacific Ocean in the Bering, Chukchi, Okhotsk seas and in the Beaufort Sea. From one whale they get up to 25-30 tons of fat.

Southern (smooth) whale. Habitats vary depending on the season of the year. In winter, right whales concentrate in the North Asian part of the Pacific Ocean at 20-40 0 N latitude, as well as in the southern part of the Japanese Sea, in the Yellow Sea, East China Sea and in the waters of Taiwan. In the spring (from March to May) the migration of animals to the north begins, and they spend the summer in the Sea of ​​Okhotsk, in the Kuril Ridge region, off the coast of Kamchatka and the Commander Islands. With the onset of autumn, animals migrate south for the winter.

Gray whale. The most ancient of the baleen whales. It has not lost contact with the shore, as it breeds only in the shallow bays of California and Korea. With a maximum length of 15 m, the weight of animals reaches 20-35 tons. Growth continues up to 40 years. After 8 years, females give birth to cubs about 4 m long and weighing up to 600 kg or more. Lives exclusively in the waters of the northern half of the Pacific Ocean. In Russian waters it is found along the coast of the Sea of ​​Japan, in the La Perouse and Tatar Straits, in the Kuril Islands, Okhotsk, and sometimes in the East Siberian Sea along the edge of pack ice. In addition, gray whales are frequent visitors to the coastal waters of Korea, the Korea Strait and the Japanese Islands. Extraction is permitted only for the local population of Chukotka in single quantities.

TOOTHED WHALES

Sperm whale. The largest representative of toothed whales. With a body weight of 50 tons, males can reach a length of 20, and females - 15 m. The average length of males in the waters of the Far East is 15, females - 13 m. Characteristic external features: a huge, laterally flattened head (1/3-1/ 4 body lengths); depression at the bottom of the head; lack of teeth in the upper jaw and long lower jaws; several small hump-fins behind the main dorsal fin. The weight of one sperm whale lower jaw tooth reaches 1.6 kg. Female sperm whales mature at 15-17 years, males at 23-25 ​​years. The length of newborn calves is 4-4.5 m. Sperm whales are distributed throughout the world's oceans. At the same time, females breed in the tropics and rarely go beyond the subtropical zone, and males can migrate in the summer to the north up to the Davis Strait, the Barents and Bering Seas and south to Antarctica. In Russian waters, sperm whales are most often found in the area of ​​the Kuril Ridge, in the southern part of the Sea of ​​​​Okhotsk and near the Commander Islands.

Northern swimmer. It is very easy to distinguish this species of whale from its relatives by its elongated cylindrical beak and characteristic high spherical “forehead,” sometimes with white markings. It reaches a length of 11-12 m, weighs 8-10 tons. It lives in the northern part of the Pacific Ocean, from Cape Navarin, Alaska and British Columbia to the latitudes of Southern Japan and California. In Russian waters it is more often found in the Sea of ​​Okhotsk and near the Kuril Islands, less often in the Sea of ​​Japan and the Bering Sea. The fat of the floater is not edible, so it is obtained either by accident or for economic purposes, mainly in Japan.

High brow bottlenose. Unlike the swimmer, the bottlenose's beak is sharp and short, and the "forehead" hangs over its base. With a length of 9-10 m, the weight of the animals does not exceed 8 tons. For their habitat, bottlenose fish chose the waters of the North Atlantic from the Davis Strait, Greenland and Barents Seas to the latitudes of North-West Africa and the middle part of the USA. Sometimes they enter the Mediterranean, Baltic and White Seas. They winter in the warm waters of the Atlantic. The bottlenose fishery is carried out in the waters of Norway, the northwestern part of the Barents Sea and Iceland.

Bottlenose dolphin. Bottlenose dolphins are common in coastal temperate and warm waters of the World Ocean. Three of the four species of bottlenose dolphins are found in Russian waters: the Black Sea, the Atlantic (in the Baltic) and the North Pacific. The dimensions of these animals do not exceed 3.3-3.6 m, and their weight is 300-400 kg. In spring and summer they give birth to cubs just over 1 m in length and weighing 11-12 kg. Bottlenose dolphins are used mainly in aquariums and zoos.

Common dolphin (real, Black Sea, common dolphin). The length of common dolphins is 1.6-2.6 m (in the Black Sea - no more than 2.1 m). The distinctive features of these animals are a slender body and a long beak, separated from the fat pad by characteristic grooves. The weight of male Black Sea dolphins varies from 24 to 58, and females - from 36 to 61 kg. The habitat of these animals in the World Ocean, like that of bottlenose dolphins, is very wide. Three species of dolphins live in Russian waters: Atlantic (Baltic), Black Sea (the smallest) and Far Eastern (Sea of ​​Japan). Dolphin fishing in the Black Sea has been prohibited since 1967.

Grinds. Three species of pilot whales live in the World Ocean: common, tropical and black, or North Pacific. The black pilot whale is the largest, its length reaches 5.5-6.5 m. Characteristic external signs of pilot whales: a spherical head, almost devoid of a beak, a dorsal fin sharply bent back and shifted towards the head.

Toothed whales of this species are distributed in the North Atlantic and in temperate waters of the Pacific Ocean to the latitudes of the Kuril, Commander and Aleutian Islands. Pilot whales are regularly caught off the coasts of Japan, the Faroe Islands, Newfoundland and Norway, as well as in the open waters of the North and Barents Seas.

Orcas. By its characteristic huge white spots, the killer whale can be easily distinguished from any other whale. With a body length of 8.7-10 m, the weight of the animal reaches 8 tons, and the speed of movement is 55 km/h, which significantly complicates its fishing. Killer whales prefer cold and temperate waters of the World Ocean. They were even encountered in the Arctic seas - the Kara and East Siberian (Chaun Bay). But for some reason the animals avoid the Laptev and Black Seas.

Porpoises. Females are slightly larger than males - body length is 1.8 and 1.7 m, respectively. The maximum weight reaches 90 kg, the average is 50 kg, and among the inhabitants of the Black Sea it does not exceed 30 kg. The weight of the cubs is usually no more than 3 kg. These animals chose bays, bays, fiords, estuaries and lower reaches of rivers of the Northern Hemisphere as their habitats. Three species of porpoises are found in Russian waters: the Black Sea (the smallest), the North Atlantic (Baltic, White, Barents seas) and the North Pacific (the seas of the Far East).

Beluga whales. A characteristic feature of these whales, in addition to their white color, is the absence of a beak and dorsal fin. The length of males reaches 6 m, weight 2 tons, and females - 5 m and 1.5 tons, respectively. Sucker calves are slate-blue in color, and young beluga whales are gray or blue.

Distributed in all seas of the Arctic and adjacent basins, the Bering and Okhotsk seas. In very severe winters they can descend south to the latitudes of Japan and Great Britain and enter the Baltic Sea. Three species of belugas live in Russian waters: the White Sea, Kara and Far Eastern. Their production in our waters is limited.

Narwhal (unicorn). The shape, weight and length of the body are the same as that of a beluga whale, but the narwhal's back is dark blue with an overall light background of the body, and the tail on top resembles an anchor with two wide paws. Males are distinguished by a powerful tusk with a spiral thread, protruding 2-3 m from the left side of the muzzle.

It prefers high latitudes for habitat - the Arctic Ocean and Arctic seas, especially the Greenland region and the northern part of the Canadian archipelago. Narwhals were encountered from 85°N. in the north to Great Britain and the Netherlands, the Murmansk coast, the mouth of the Pechora, the White Sea, Bering Island, Port Moller (Alaska) in the south. The species is very small in number and can be classified as a rare animal. Nevertheless, residents of the Greenland coast catch several hundred narwhals every year.

Is a whale a fish or a mammal? This question troubled scientists long before the advent of modern science. In particular, such a genius of thought as Aristotle tried to solve this problem. And at the same time he came to the same opinion as our contemporaries. But let's talk about everything in order.

The whale is the most majestic inhabitant of the waters. No living creature can compare with his size and grace, not to mention his amazing ability to sing songs. But what else do we know about these incredible creatures?

Who is this whale?

So what is the meaning of the word whale? According to the dictionary, it is a large mammal that lives in the sea. That is, today, unlike in the past, it is much easier to find the answer to such a confusing question. But how did it happen that the ancient descendant of whales wanted to exchange land for the ocean?

Well, scientists don’t know the whole truth yet. However, it is known for sure that 60 million years ago, the ancestors of all cetaceans first went back to the water to look for food. Perhaps they were prompted to do this by a prolonged drought, which destroyed some of the vegetation on the planet, or by great competition from other animals. But the fact remains that the ancestors of the whales no longer wanted to return back to land.

How did a land animal adapt to life under water?

It should be understood that such a metamorphosis did not occur in one or two years. Evolution is a chain of small changes due to which, over thousands of years, a living organism constantly mutates. And this ultimately produces a completely new species, radically different from its ancestors.

And yet, 60 million years later, researchers still find in the structure of the whale’s skeleton echoes of those ancient times when it still walked on land on its four legs. For example, he has a hip bone that is located at the back of his body. And also its front fins have a similar bone structure to that of most artiodactyls.

After conducting a series of studies, scientists came to an interesting conclusion. It turns out that the closest relatives of cetaceans are hippos. And if you look closely, you can see some similarities in their behavior even today. In particular their great passion for water.

Family Cetaceans

It should be noted that the whale is not the only representative of its family. Dolphins are also included in the category of marine mammals. How do they differ from other inhabitants of the deep waters?

  • Firstly, all cetaceans are warm-blooded, unlike fish. That is why they so badly need a good fat layer that can protect them from the cold of the underwater kingdom.
  • Secondly, this family is not capable of extracting oxygen from water. Therefore, they must constantly float to the surface in order to replenish their supply of air in their lungs.
  • Thirdly, they all feed their children milk. And although over the long years of evolution this process has changed slightly, cetaceans still remain mammals.

The whole family is divided into three large subgroups:

  • (Mysticeti) is the largest order of the family. Its distinctive feature is the special filtering organ “whalebone”, which is located on the upper jaw of the animal. Its main task is to filter plankton from excess impurities.
  • Toothed whales (Odontoceti) are primarily predators, hunting squid and small fish. This species is able to navigate in water using echolocation.
  • Ancient whales (Archaeoceti) - unfortunately, not a single representative of this category could survive to this day.

Whales: general information

Among all the inhabitants of planet Earth, the whale is the largest mammal. On average, an adult can reach 25 meters in length. For comparison, 4 large buses take about the same amount if they are placed in one row. It is not surprising that such a colossus weighs about 90-110 tons, and some even more.

These giants live in almost all the oceans of the planet. What is true is that depending on the season, they can migrate from one place to another. This behavior is due to the fact that whales are sensitive to water temperature, and therefore they spend the winter closer to the tropics.

In general, among all representatives of this family, two special subspecies can be distinguished: blue and gray whales. By and large, this division is due to the skin color of these animals, but there are other, no less important differences.

Echoes of the past

The gray whale is the most ancient representative of this family. Scientists have found the remains of these animals, which, according to rough analyzes, were about 30 million years old. Previously, these giants lived in almost all corners of the globe, but now they can only be found in the northern part of the Pacific Ocean.

These creatures are accustomed to living in small groups, about 2-3 individuals in each. Although you can often find a lone whale proudly plowing the waters. Yet most giants prefer to live in a group. By and large, this is due to the fact that gray whales have very strong family ties.

Perhaps it was this connection that helped them survive dangerous times. Indeed, in the middle of the 20th century, they were almost completely destroyed by whalers hunting for their fat. Thus, according to scientists, in 1946 the number of these mammals decreased to 250 individuals. Only thanks to a miracle and the efforts of animal rights activists was it possible to avoid tragedy. Now the number of these animals has increased to 30 thousand, which has given them new hope for a better future.

The blue whale is the largest creature on earth

As for blue whales, they are rightfully considered the largest creatures on this planet. Even such a huge animal as an elephant cannot compete with them. Such sizes remind us that once upon a time similar giants walked across the entire surface of the earth. Now the blue whale is the only representative of the giant animals of antiquity.

This animal does not particularly favor people, and therefore rarely approaches the coast. His favorite environment is the open ocean, where he feels truly free. It moves quite slowly, only at a speed of 10-12 km/h, but in case of danger it can increase three times.

Like all representatives of its species, the blue whale feeds on plankton. And although this animal has long ago exchanged land for water, it still cannot remain in it constantly. This is why whales so often float to the surface, releasing fountains of water from a special hole located on the upper part of the body.

Whale breeding

Whales are marine animals whose numbers have often declined to catastrophic levels. This is due to people hunting for their meat and fat. They are the main culprits of these tragedies, but not the only ones.

Another factor influencing the population of any species is its ability to reproduce. So, the problem is that these creatures give birth to offspring no more than once every one or two years. And at the same time, the female gives birth to only one kitten, less often - two. Moreover, depending on the subspecies of whales, pregnancy can last from 9 to 18 months.

The nice thing is that the mother always treats her baby very carefully. Those, in turn, grow very quickly and gain weight. So, on average, a baby whale can gain about 50 kg of live weight per day. Therefore, you should not be surprised that in just seven months it can grow up to 14 meters in length and weigh 20-25 tons.

And although whales reach sexual maturity at the age of 4-5 years, they become full-fledged adults only at the 14-15th year of their life.

Few people know that:

  • Whales are the only ones, besides humans, that can sing. And although it was previously believed that only males had this ability, recent studies have proven the opposite. So, female whales also sing songs, especially to small calves.
  • A full stomach can hold up to two tons of live food. For example, average fishing boats take the same amount of catch.
  • If we talk about the weight of a whale, we should remember that its tongue alone weighs about 3 tons. As for other organs, for example, the heart can reach 600-700 kilograms.
  • Although the whale still has a hip bone, it is completely useless. Moreover, it is not even connected to the main part of the skeleton.

A whale is a marine animal of the chordate type, class mammals, order Cetacea. The whale received its modern name, consonant in many languages, from the Greek word kitoc, literally meaning “sea monster.”

Anatomically, the whale has teeth, but in some species they are in an undeveloped state. In toothless baleen whales, teeth are replaced by bony plates called baleen and adapted for straining food.

And only representatives of toothed whales grow identical cone-shaped teeth.

The whale's spine can contain from 41 to 98 vertebrae, and thanks to the spongy structure of the skeleton, elastic intervertebral discs give the animal's body special maneuverability and plasticity.

There is no cervical interception, and the head smoothly merges into the body, which noticeably tapers towards the tail. The whale's pectoral fins are modified and turned into flippers that perform the function of steering, turning and braking. The tail section of the body is flexible and muscular, has a slightly flattened shape and performs the function of a motor. At the end of the tail there are blades that are horizontal.

Most species of whales have an unpaired dorsal fin, which acts as a stabilizer when moving through the water column.

The skin of a whale is smooth, hairless, only single hairs and bristles grow on the face of baleen whales, similar to the whiskers of land animals.

The color of the whale can be monochromatic, spotted or counter-shaded, when the top of the animal is dark and the bottom is light. In some species, the color of the body changes with age.

Due to the absence of olfactory nerves, whales have almost completely lost their sense of smell. Taste buds are poorly developed, so unlike other mammals, whales only distinguish the salty taste. Whales have poor eyesight, most of these animals are myopic, but they have conjunctival glands that are absent in other animals.

In terms of whale hearing, the complex anatomy of the inner ear allows whales to detect sounds ranging from 150 Hz to the lowest ultrasonic frequencies. And due to the richly innervated skin, all whales have an excellent sense of touch.

Whales communicate with each other. The absence of vocal cords does not prevent whales from speaking and making special sounds using their echolocation apparatus. The concave bones of the skull, together with the fat layer, act as a sound lens and reflector, directing a beam of ultrasonic signals in the desired direction.

Most whales are quite slow, but if necessary, a whale's speed can be 20 - 40 km/h.

The lifespan of small whales is about 30 years, large whales live up to 50 years.

Where do whales live?

Whales live in all oceans. Most whale species are gregarious animals and prefer to live in groups of several tens or even thousands of individuals. Some species are subject to constant seasonal migrations: in winter, whales swim to warm waters where they give birth, and in summer they fatten in temperate and high latitudes.

What does a whale eat?

Most whales eat a certain type of food:

  • planktivores eat exclusively plankton;
  • teutophagous prefer to eat cephalopods;
  • ichthyophages they eat only live fish;
  • saprophages (detritivores) consume decomposed organic matter.

And only one animal from the order of cetaceans, the killer whale, feeds not only on fish, but also on pinnipeds (seals, sea lions, penguins), as well as other whales, dolphins and their calves.

Killer whale swims after a penguin

Types of whales with photos and names.

Modern classification divides the order of cetaceans into 2 main suborders:

  • toothless or mustachioed whales (Mysticeti);
  • toothy whales (Odontoceti), which includes dolphins, killer whales, sperm whales and porpoises.

The order Cetacea forms 38 genera, which include over 80 known species. Among this variety, several varieties can be distinguished:

  • , aka humpback or long-armed minke whale(Megaptera novaeangliae)

got its name from the convex fin on its back, reminiscent of a hump. The body length of the whale reaches 14.5 meters, in some specimens it is 18 meters. The average weight of a humpback whale is 30 tons. The humpback whale differs from other representatives of the minke whale family in its shortened body, variety of colors and several rows of warty, leathery protrusions on the top of its head. Humpback whales live throughout the world's oceans, except the Arctic and Antarctic. Representatives of the North Atlantic population feed exclusively on fish: capelin, navaga, pollock, sardines, herring, haddock. The remaining whales eat small crustaceans, various shellfish and small schooling fish.

  • Gray whale (California whale) (Eschrichtius robustus, Eschrichtius gibbosus)

the only species of whale that practices eating food from the bottom of the ocean: the animal plows the silt with a special keel-shaped outgrowth located under the lower jaw. The basis of the gray whale's food consists of many organisms that live on the bottom: annelids, snails, bivalves and other molluscs, crayfish, egg capsules and sea sponges, as well as small species of fish. Gray whales in adulthood have a body length of up to 12-15 m, the average weight of a whale varies from 15 to 35 tons, with females being larger than males. The body is brown-gray or dark brown, reminiscent of rocky shores in color. This species of whale lives in the Sea of ​​Okhotsk, Chukchi and Bering, and in winter migrates to the Gulf of California and to the southern shores of Japan. Gray whales are record holders among animals for the duration of migrations - the distance covered by animals can reach 12 thousand km.

  • bowhead whale (polar whale) (Balaena mysticetus)

long-lived among mammals. The average age of a polar whale is 40 years, but the known scientifically proven fact of longevity is 211 years. This is a unique species of baleen whale that spends its entire life in the cold waters of the Northern Hemisphere, often making its way like an icebreaker. The whale fountain rises to 6 m in height. The body length of mature females reaches 20-22 meters, males - 18 meters. The weight of a whale is from 75 to 150 tons. The animal's skin color is usually gray or dark blue. The belly and neck are lighter in color. An adult bowhead whale consumes almost 2 tons of various foods every day, consisting of plankton (crustaceans and pteropods).

  • Sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus)

the largest representative of toothed whales, and females are much smaller than males and have a body length of no more than 15 meters. The male whale grows up to 20 meters in length. The maximum weight of females reaches 20 tons, males - 50 tons. Sperm whales have such a distinctive appearance that they cannot be confused with other cetaceans. The giant head makes up over 35% of the length of the body, and, when viewed from the side, the sperm whale's muzzle looks like a slightly beveled rectangle. In the recess at the bottom of the head there is a mouth lined with 20-26 pairs of cone-shaped teeth. The weight of 1 whale tooth reaches 1 kilogram. The wrinkled skin of the sperm whale is often dark gray with a blue tint, although dark brown and even black individuals are found. Being a predator, the sperm whale hunts squid, cuttlefish, large fish (including some types of sharks), and also swallows all sorts of objects found in the ocean: empty bottles, rubber boots, toys, coils of wire. Sperm whales live throughout the world's oceans, but are more common in tropical waters than in cool ones. Most of the population is distributed off the coast of the Black Continent and the eastern coast of Asia.

  • (Balaenoptera physalus)

the second largest animal on the planet. The length of an adult whale is 24-27 m, but thanks to its slender physique, the whale weighs only 40-70 tons. A distinctive feature of fin whales is the asymmetrical coloration of the muzzle: the right part of the lower jaw is white, and the left is dark. The whale's diet consists of small crustaceans. Fin whales live in all oceans: in winter they inhabit the waters of moderately warm zones, and in the warm season they swim to the waters of the Arctic and Antarctic.

  • Blue whale (blue whale, vomited)(Balaenoptera musculus)

not only the largest whale in the world, but also the largest animal on our planet. The length of a blue whale can reach 33 meters, and the weight of a blue whale reaches 150 tons. This animal has a relatively slender build and a narrow muzzle. The body color within the species is uniform: most individuals are gray with a blue tint and gray spots scattered throughout the body, making the animal’s skin appear marbled. The blue whale feeds mostly on plankton and inhabits the entire World Ocean.

  • Dwarf right whale (dwarf right whale, short-headed right whale)(Caperea marginata)

The smallest species of the suborder of baleen whales. The body of an adult does not exceed 4-6 m in length, and the whale’s body weight barely reaches 3-3.5 tons. Skin color is gray with dark spots, sometimes black. It is distinguished by a wave-like mode of movement, unusual for whales, and feeds on plankton. The pygmy whale is one of the rarest and smallest species of whales, living mainly in the waters of southern Australia and New Zealand.

Whale breeding

For the most part, whales are monogamous and breed once every 2 years. Whales reach the ability to reproduce by 3-5 years, but physically mature only at the age of 12 years. The mating season is very extended in time, because males are ready to mate for almost a whole year. Depending on the species, a female whale's pregnancy lasts from 7 to 18 months. Non-migratory whales give birth in the summer, the rest swim to warm waters and give birth there.

Childbirth occurs in the water column, one calf is born, and it always goes tail first. A newborn whale weighs 2-3 tons and is a quarter or even half the length of a female.

The whale calf can immediately move independently, but stays close to the mother, in whom the maternal instinct prevails above others.

Whales feed their young underwater. Whale milk is extremely thick and high-calorie, with a fat content of up to 54%, and does not spread in water. The mother feeds the calf for an average of 4-7 months (sperm whales up to 13 months). The cubs grow quickly and, upon completion of breastfeeding, increase in size to half their original length. All this time, the males of most whale species stay nearby and do not leave their family under any circumstances.

What is the difference between a whale and a sperm whale?

The sperm whale is a species of whale. It has its own specific features:

  • The head of a sperm whale with a huge square forehead occupies from 1/4 to 1/3 of the length of the body. The head of other whales is relatively small: from 1/5 to 1/9 of the body length. The exception is some representatives of baleen whales, such as the bowhead whale, the southern right whale, whose head and body sizes are in the same proportion as those of sperm whales.
  • The nostrils of whales are moved back and up. They can be paired (in baleen whales) or unpaired (one nostril) (in toothed whales). The sperm whale's nostrils are located asymmetrically and are moved forward, while one of them performs the respiratory function, and with the help of the other it makes sounds.
  • The sperm whale belongs to the suborder of toothed whales, and its jaws are armed with numerous cone-shaped teeth. Mammals of the suborder baleen whales have horny plates instead of teeth, which replace teeth and are called baleen.
  • Sperm whales have a huge spermaceti organ in their heads, filled with a fatty substance (spermaceti) that solidifies at low temperatures. It is assumed that this organ helps the animal dive and rise to the surface. Unlike the sperm whale, other whales do not have such an organ.
  • Another difference is the dorsal fin. In whales it is solitary. In sperm whales it has an unusual structure for other whales - a small crest, followed by several similar ones, only smaller ones.
  • The sperm whale is capable of diving to depths of up to 3000 m, which is much greater compared to other whales. It stays under water longer not only than other cetaceans, but also all living creatures on the planet that breathe atmospheric air.
  • The sperm whale, like other toothed whales, feeds mainly on cephalopods, in particular squid and, in smaller quantities, fish, including deep-sea fish, grabbing them with its jaws. Baleen whales feed on plankton, small fish and other small vertebrates, filtering them from the water through the baleen.
  • The pregnancy of sperm whales is longer than that of other cetaceans, lasting 16-18 months.
  • All whales feed their young underwater. After a certain period of time, babies latch onto their mother's nipple for a few seconds. In this case, the cubs of all whales hold it between the tongue and the top of the palate, and the baby sperm whale holds it in the corner of the mouth.
  • Sperm whales emit echolocation signals: clicks, crackles and creaks. Baleen whales, whose echolocation is not developed or is in its infancy, can pronounce a variety of sounds. For example, a bowhead whale can produce a growl, roar, moan, or purr; humpback whale songs are similar to the sounds of wind instruments; The moans of the fin whale resemble the sound of a flute from high to low tones. Many representatives of toothed whales make the same sounds as sperm whales, but at the same time they are capable of whistling, roaring, and killer whales can also scream like March cats.
  • Whales swim faster than sperm whales, reaching speeds of more than 50 km/h. The maximum speed of sperm whales rarely exceeds 37 km/h, and generally does not exceed 10 km/h.

What is the difference between an orca and a whale?

The killer whale, like whales, belongs to the order Cetaceans, but it has certain characteristics:

  • Killer whales differ from other whales in having a high dorsal fin, reaching 1 m in height. Moreover, males have a higher fin than females.
  • In killer whales, in contrast to other whales, the head shortens with age, and the tail lengthens, that is, the tail grows faster than the head.
  • Whales feed on plankton, small vertebrates, fish, and cephalopods. Killer whales, which also eat fish and shellfish at a young age, later become real predators, attacking warm-blooded animals. They eat sea lions, sea lions, elephant seals, porpoises, seals, walruses and even their fellow cetaceans. They swallow small prey whole, and large prey in large pieces.
  • Whales are rather melancholic and slow animals. These sometimes clumsy sea giants are ready to filter water for hours, extracting krill from it. The killer whale is a fast and very active predator, deftly hunting prey swimming nearby.
  • Killer whales are characterized by a strong attachment to each other and to their calves; their pod is difficult to separate. Many other whales lead a solitary lifestyle or gather in small groups of 3-4 individuals.

  • For a long time, whales have been of great economic importance to humans. Bones and fat from the subcutaneous layers of the whale were boiled to obtain fat, which was used for the production of margarine, glycerin and was used in the soap industry.
  • Spermaceti, extracted from the head of sperm whales, is included in cosmetics, including decorative lipstick and various creams. Before the invention of polymers, corsets for women's dresses and springs for upholstered furniture were made from whalebone.
  • Insulin and other drugs are produced from whale pancreatic secretions. Ambergris, contained in the intestines of the sperm whale, is widely used in perfumery as a flavor stabilizer.
  • Uncontrolled whaling inevitably led to the almost complete extinction of many whale populations. Today, most species are listed in the International Red Book, and commercial whale hunting is prohibited by the legislation of most civilized countries.

A whale is a marine mammal belonging to the phylum Chordata, order of Cetaceans. Whale is translated from Greek as sea monster.

Description of appearance

It’s hard to imagine, but the ancestors of all species of whales are artiodactyl animals that lived on land. Externally, a whale looks like a fish, but today the closest animal to it is a hippopotamus. Whales and hippos have the same ancestors who lived on Earth 54 million years ago.

The whale is considered the largest mammal on the planet. Its weight and size depend on the species. The largest size and weight of blue whales is 33 m and 150 tons. The smallest parameters are for the dwarf species - 4-6 m and 3-3.5 tons.

The whale is warm-blooded; it can maintain a constant body temperature regardless of external conditions. A significant layer of fat helps prevent hypothermia. The normal body temperature of a whale is considered to be 35-40° C.

Breathing occurs with the help of the lungs. To breathe air, the whale must rise to the surface. Whales can stay underwater for 10-40 minutes, and sperm whales can stay underwater for 90 minutes.

The air that these animals exhale has a higher temperature than the surrounding air. Because of this, a fountain is formed, which is a condensate column, the parameters of which depend on the species.

The body of the whale has the shape of a drop, this contributes to the least resistance of water when moving.

The powerful head is completed by a narrow, blunt or, on the contrary, pointed beak - rostrum. The nostrils (blowholes) are located closer to the parietal region. The whale has small eyes compared to its body - only 10-17 cm in diameter. The weight of eyeballs is no more than 1 kg.

The anatomical structure provides for teeth, but in some species of whales they are not developed; instead, they have bone plates (baleen). Toothed species have cone-shaped teeth of the same size.

The vertebral column of a whale consists of 41-98 vertebrae. The skeleton is elastic and has a spongy structure. This contributes to the ability to make maneuverable and flexible movements.

Whales do not have a neck as such; the head immediately passes into the body, tapering towards the tail. Instead of pectoral fins there are flippers. With their help, the animal can turn and brake.

The flattened tail is flexible and muscular. At its end there are horizontal blades. Many species of whales have an unpaired fin on their backs to stabilize their body position when moving.

Whale skin has no hairs. Only baleen species can boast short single hairs similar to vibrissae.

Whales can be solid, spotted or 2-colored. Some species change the color of their skin as they grow older.

Whales have poorly developed senses of smell, taste, and vision. Whales are the only animals in the animal kingdom that have a conjunctiva. Whale hearing is well developed. They also have an excellent sense of touch. Whales do not have vocal cords, but this does not pose a problem in communicating with each other. They can produce a special sound.

Whales move quite slowly, but can reach speeds of up to 40 km/h. Whales live on average 30 years, but some species live up to 50.

Whale habitat

The habitat of whales is all four oceans. These animals live in herds. Groups of whales can number thousands of animals. Some species migrate seasonally.

Diet

All cetaceans, with the exception of killer whales, prefer to feed on plankton, various mollusks, fish, and decomposed organic matter.

Killer whales eat, in addition to fish, various pinnipeds, other cetaceans, and dolphins.

Types of whales

Today, biologists divide all cetaceans into two groups: baleen (toothless) and toothed whales. The latter include dolphins, killer whales, sperm whales, and porpoises. Below are photos of large whales.

The 38 genera of cetaceans include more than 80 species. The most popular are humpback, gray, blue, bowhead, dwarf whales, sperm whales, and fin whales.

How whales reproduce

Almost all cetaceans are monogamous. A female whale gives birth to a calf once every 2 years. Childbearing age begins at 3 years of age, and full physical maturation occurs by 12 years of age.

Whales have a long mating season. The female carries the baby for 7-18 months - this depends on her species.

Childbirth occurs in the summer. Some species migrate to warm waters to breed.

A whale can only give birth to one calf at a time. Its weight is 2-3 tons, and its length is 2-4 times less than its mother’s. Feeding occurs in the water column for 4-7 months. The sperm whale feeds its calf for 13 months. Whale milk is very fatty and contains many calories.

The economic importance of cetaceans for people has long been great. Whale oil was used to make glycerin, soap and margarine.

The spermaceti substance contained in the head of the sperm whale is used in cosmetology. Whalebone was used for corsets.

The production of insulin is based on the secretion secreted by the pancreas of whales. It is also used to produce other medicines. Ambergris extracted from whales is used by perfumers.

Uncontrolled whaling has driven many species to near extinction. Today, whales are in the Red Book and their killing is prohibited by law in many states.

Photos of whales