Facts about Whales: Types, Characteristics, Size, Food Habits and Lifespan

Whales are giant animals that live in the ocean. Even though they swim like fish, they are actually mammals. This means they breathe air, just like we do. They give birth to babies and feed them with milk. Whales are found in every ocean in the world, from warm seas near the equator to the cold waters near the North and South Poles. They have been living on Earth for millions of years. Scientists have found over 90 different types of whales so far. These animals are fascinating, and there is a lot we can learn from them.

Whales are Not Fish

Many people think whales are fish because they live in water. But that is not true. Whales are mammals. They need to come up to the surface to breathe air. They have warm blood, and mother whales feed their babies with milk. Fish breathe through gills, but whales breathe through blowholes on top of their heads.

There are two main types of whales:

• Baleen Whales: These whales have no teeth. They have thin plates in their mouths that act like a strainer. Water goes in, and small fish or krill get caught inside. Blue whales and humpback whales are baleen whales.
• Toothed Whales: These whales have teeth and hunt for their food. Sperm whales, orcas, and dolphins belong to this group.

How Big are Whales

Whales are the biggest animals on the planet. The blue whale is the largest of all. It can grow up to 30 metres long. That is longer than two school buses placed end to end. A blue whale can weigh up to 200 tonnes, heavier than 30 elephants. Even a newborn blue whale calf is about 7 metres long and weighs around 2,700 kg. It is one of the heaviest babies in the animal kingdom. Not every whale is huge, though. The dwarf sperm whale grows to only about 2.7 metres. That is small enough to fit in a large room.

How do Whales Breathe

Whales breathe through blowholes. These are like nostrils, but they sit on top of the whale's head. When a whale comes to the surface, it breathes out first. This sends a big cloud of water vapour into the air. Then it takes a fresh breath and goes back under. Baleen whales have two blowholes, while toothed whales have only one. Some whales can hold their breath for a very long time. Sperm whales can stay underwater for up to 90 minutes before they need to come up for air.

How do Whales Talk to Each Other

Whales are very intelligent animals. They use sounds to talk to each other. Humpback whales are known for their songs. The male humpback sings long songs that can go on for hours. These songs can be heard hundreds of kilometres away in the ocean. Toothed whales use something called echolocation. They send out sound waves through the water. When these sounds hit an object, they bounce back. The whale uses this to find food and move around, especially in deep or dark water.

What do Whales Eat

Blue whales eat tiny shrimp-like creatures called krill. In one day, a blue whale can eat up to 4 tonnes of krill. That is a lot of food! Sperm whales like to eat giant squid. They dive very deep into the ocean to hunt them. Orcas, which are also called killer whales, eat fish, seals, and sometimes other whales.

How Long do Whales Live

Whales live for a long time. Humpback whales can live up to 80 or 90 years. The bowhead whale lives even longer. Some bowhead whales are believed to have lived for more than 200 years, making them one of the longest-living animals on Earth.

Why do Whales Matter

Whales are very important for the health of our oceans. Their waste acts as a natural fertilizer for the ocean. It helps tiny sea plants called phytoplankton grow. These plants produce a large amount of the oxygen in our atmosphere. So whales actually help keep the air clean for all of us. When whales die, their bodies sink to the ocean floor and provide food for many deep-sea creatures for years. This is called a whale fall.