Grossmont and Cuyamaca College Whales Summary Essay

Whales
Facts and Information
Classification
Whales are aquatic mammals, who live their whole lives in the sea as well
as their fetus develops in the mother’s womb during gestation until birth.
The order Cetaceans comprises of two suborders; Mysticeti (Baleen) and
Odontoceti (Toothed), which also includes dolphins and porpoises.
Specifically, whales refer Cetaseans that grow more than 3 meters (10 feet)
long.
BALEEN WHALES (MYSTICETI)
TOOTHED WHALES (ODONTOCETI)
They include: Blue, Gray,
Humpback, Sei, and Minke Whales
They include: Beaked, Sperm,
Fin, and Beluga whales
Distribution Maps : Baleen Whales
Distribution Maps: Toothed Whales
Distribution Maps: Toothed Whales
Threats To Whale Populations
Whaling
Noise Pollution
Other threats to Whale
Populations
– Entanglement in fishing gear
(by-catch)
– Climate change
– Ship strikes
– Toxic contamination,
– Habitat degradation.
Quick Facts
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owhead whales can live up to 200
years!
– Killer whales (Orcas) aren’t actually
whales, they are the largest species of
dolphin!
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