Whales
By Matthew Heering
General Information When people think of whales they usually picture the sperm whale. Its huge, blunt snout sticks out beyond its small lower jaw and makes up one-third of its body. There are many other types of whales that I have found interesting in my research.
Humpback Whale This whale's back is not humped but it does show its neck and back when diving. Its long flippers are one third the length of its 55 foot long body.
Blue Whale The huge blue whale feeds on the creatures and plants called plankton. Each whale eats over four tons of plankton a year. Blue whales may reach to 100 feet in length.
Beluga Whale The beluga whale is sometimes called the white whale because the adults are nearly pure white. They are ten to 15 feet long and live in Arctic waters.
Orca Orcas are intelligent and easy to train. In front of crowds they seem friendly and people feel the same way about them. Orcas are shiny black with a white belly. The orca (also called the killer whale) lives in all the world's oceans. It measures from 20 to 30 feet in length.
Fun Facts 1. Whales can hold their breath for an hour or more when they are diving. 2. Expert whale watchers often tell a whale by its spout. 3. Whales breathe through special nostrils called blowholes on top of their heads. 4. A mother whale always stays close to her baby. 5. The blubber helps them to keep warm.