Dolphins are excellent swimmers and can be seen swimming at high speeds. I have been researching their swimming techniques and wanted to share some research here. Dolphins have many adaptations that allow them to swim. They have very little hair, few external appendages, a blubber layer that helps them float, along with powerful tails and …
If you have ever seen a whale leap out of the water, then you know this is one of the most unique and powerful things you will ever see. The leap is called a breach, and in this article, I look at why whales do this. Whales breach as a means of communication with other …
Hugely intelligent and lots of fun, many people dream of seeing dolphins. As a result, there’s an increase in the number of holidaymakers wanting to spend time with these creatures, and the choice of holidays across the world is growing. Dolphins are often seen swimming alongside boats, and I wanted to find out why. Dolphins …
Narwhals have a horn or tusk that protrudes from their front. In this article, we look at why narwhals have a horn and what they use it for. Narwhals use their horns for echolocation, sparring, mating rituals, and other uses. Please read on for more information on how narwhals use their horns. Narwhals are medium-sized …
You can see dolphins in many places in North America, and I wanted to find out which species are common. I was surprised to find how many species of dolphins there are. Sixteen species of dolphins can be found around North America. Atlantic Spotted Dolphin Atlantic White-sided Dolphin Bottlenose Dolphin Clymene Dolphin False Killer Whale …
I was lucky enough to be in Bali recently on a dolphin-watching trip. I wanted to know how dolphins breastfeed their young underwater, so I asked one of the guides. His answer left me with some questions, so I looked into this further when I got back to shore. Dolphins have inverted nipples inside mammary …
Dolphins have evolved complex sensory functions, which they use as a form of echolocation. In this article, we look at how they manage to do this. Dolphins beam out internal sounds made using fat deposits in their head to locate and identify objects around them. If you want to know more about how and why …
There is some discussion over how many groups of marine mammals there are. Some organizations say four; others say five. They all include the same mammals, so I wanted to research what these are. NOAA recognizes four different groups: cetaceans (whales, dolphins, and porpoises), pinnipeds (seals, sea lions, and walruses), sirenians (manatees and dugongs), and marine fissipeds (polar bears and sea otters). The Marine Mammal Center separates …
All mammals must drink water, and whales are no exception. You might wonder how they drink without so much salt in the water without getting ill. Whales cannot drink fresh water, as they are surrounded by water with a high salt concentration. Whales get most of the water their bodies need from fish but can …
On a recent whale-watching trip, I talked to the guide about why whales migrate, and he gave me some good insights. This article examines why they move from one area and their motives for migrating every season. Whale migration is the seasonal movement from one place to another. Whales migrate for two reasons; to find …
On a recent whale-watching trip, I asked one of the guides about how whales breastfeed underwater. His answer intrigued me, so I conducted further research on this when I returned to shore. Whales have inverted nipples inside mammary slits. When the calf is ready to feed, they dive underneath the mother and nudge the mammary …
The blue whale is the largest mammal to have lived on Earth. The binomial name for the blue whale is Balaenoptera musculus. Blue whales are found in waters off eastern Canada. They can be found in the northern Gulf of St. Lawrence, off Nova Scotia and Newfoundland coast, and in the Davis Strait. You can …