classify the different types of whales
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As a species whales compose around 90 different animals within the cetacean family.
The cetacean family is made up of three types of marine mammals known as whales, dolphins and porpoises.
Although the term whale can be used to describe dolphins and porpoises it is rarely used when describing these animals in order to prevent confusion among the different species.
Among the cetacean family whales compose around half of the cetaceans while dolphins make up the other half.
Porpoises only make up around 6 of the 90 or so species of marine mammals within the cetacean family.
All cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises) fall into one of two sub orders which are referred to as the baleen whale and toothed whale suborders based on their physical characteristics.
All dolphins and porpoises belong to the toothed whale family along with whales that possess teeth while the baleen whale suborder is composed exclusively of large whales that possess baleen plates.
In addition to either possessing teeth or baleen plates there are several characteristics that differentiate the two types of whales including their size, social structure, breathing (number of blowholes), dentition (teeth or baleen plates) and echolocation.
The next part of this article will explore in more detail the differences between the two suborders.
TOOTHED WHALES
Toothed whales as you probably guessed it have teeth which they use for grabbing, biting and/or chewing their prey.
Both the number of teeth these marine mammals possess and the way they use their teeth varies from one species to the next.
Some of the whales/cetaceans that belong to the toothed whale suborder include the killer whale (this species is part of the dolphins family), sperm whale, bottlenose whale andbeluga whale among others.
All species of dolphin and porpoise also fall into the toothed whale category.
These type of whales have a single blowhole as compared to the two blowholes found in baleen whales.
The majority of toothed whales (with the exception of the sperm whale) are smaller than their baleen whale relatives, but are known for eating larger prey such as fish, squid,octopus and crustaceans.
A few species such as the killer whale and false killer whale are also known to consume variousmarine mammals and large animals such as seals, sea lions, walruses, marine birds, whales, dolphins and porpoises among other large animals.
Sperm whales are unique to the toothed whale species as they are known to hunt giant squid that can measure in excess of 30 ft. long.
Note: Colossal squid are believed to measure longer than 40 ft. long when fully grown.
Due to fact that some toothed whales are fairly small when compared to other cetaceans they stand a greater chance of being hunted and attacked by predators such as sharks and killer whales.
Toothed whales tends to have a much larger and more sophisticated social structure when compared to baleen whale species.
Part of the reason these marine mammals form large groups is to protect themselves from potential predators.
Another reason for the groups has to do with the simple fact that many of the toothed whale species are very social.
These marine mammals make sounds using their blowholes and create high pitched clicking and whistling sounds in order to communicate with one another.
Unlike humans however whales are not born with vocal cords and do not need to inhale or exhale to create sound.
They simply squeeze and flex their muscles to create sounds and communicate with one another.
In addition to using sound for communication they also have highly developed echolocation abilities that use sound and echos to help these marine mammals locate food, avoid predators, navigate in the dark and find other objects in the ocean.
Note: Unlike Male baleen whales which tend to be smaller than their female counterparts male toothed whales tend to be larger than the female within their species.
The cetacean family is made up of three types of marine mammals known as whales, dolphins and porpoises.
Although the term whale can be used to describe dolphins and porpoises it is rarely used when describing these animals in order to prevent confusion among the different species.
Among the cetacean family whales compose around half of the cetaceans while dolphins make up the other half.
Porpoises only make up around 6 of the 90 or so species of marine mammals within the cetacean family.
All cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises) fall into one of two sub orders which are referred to as the baleen whale and toothed whale suborders based on their physical characteristics.
All dolphins and porpoises belong to the toothed whale family along with whales that possess teeth while the baleen whale suborder is composed exclusively of large whales that possess baleen plates.
In addition to either possessing teeth or baleen plates there are several characteristics that differentiate the two types of whales including their size, social structure, breathing (number of blowholes), dentition (teeth or baleen plates) and echolocation.
The next part of this article will explore in more detail the differences between the two suborders.
TOOTHED WHALES
Toothed whales as you probably guessed it have teeth which they use for grabbing, biting and/or chewing their prey.
Both the number of teeth these marine mammals possess and the way they use their teeth varies from one species to the next.
Some of the whales/cetaceans that belong to the toothed whale suborder include the killer whale (this species is part of the dolphins family), sperm whale, bottlenose whale andbeluga whale among others.
All species of dolphin and porpoise also fall into the toothed whale category.
These type of whales have a single blowhole as compared to the two blowholes found in baleen whales.
The majority of toothed whales (with the exception of the sperm whale) are smaller than their baleen whale relatives, but are known for eating larger prey such as fish, squid,octopus and crustaceans.
A few species such as the killer whale and false killer whale are also known to consume variousmarine mammals and large animals such as seals, sea lions, walruses, marine birds, whales, dolphins and porpoises among other large animals.
Sperm whales are unique to the toothed whale species as they are known to hunt giant squid that can measure in excess of 30 ft. long.
Note: Colossal squid are believed to measure longer than 40 ft. long when fully grown.
Due to fact that some toothed whales are fairly small when compared to other cetaceans they stand a greater chance of being hunted and attacked by predators such as sharks and killer whales.
Toothed whales tends to have a much larger and more sophisticated social structure when compared to baleen whale species.
Part of the reason these marine mammals form large groups is to protect themselves from potential predators.
Another reason for the groups has to do with the simple fact that many of the toothed whale species are very social.
These marine mammals make sounds using their blowholes and create high pitched clicking and whistling sounds in order to communicate with one another.
Unlike humans however whales are not born with vocal cords and do not need to inhale or exhale to create sound.
They simply squeeze and flex their muscles to create sounds and communicate with one another.
In addition to using sound for communication they also have highly developed echolocation abilities that use sound and echos to help these marine mammals locate food, avoid predators, navigate in the dark and find other objects in the ocean.
Note: Unlike Male baleen whales which tend to be smaller than their female counterparts male toothed whales tend to be larger than the female within their species.
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Heya!!
Here's your answer friend,
Their are two types of whales alive today
● Toothed whales, Odontoceti
● Baleen whales, Mysticeti
Hope it helps you : )
Here's your answer friend,
Their are two types of whales alive today
● Toothed whales, Odontoceti
● Baleen whales, Mysticeti
Hope it helps you : )
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