Bottlenose whales are members of the beaked whale family and are easily recognized by a large round bulging forehead sitting atop a very short beak. As males age, their head becomes even larger (in size not ego) and eventually forms a rectangle look with a steep rise and abrupt corner leading to the rest of… [read more]
Bones: water living changes bones
Here I thought that reading the section on bones in the Encyclopedia of Marine Mammals would bore me to tears. And well let’s just be honest, some of it was definitely sleep inducing. Until I came to the part about “two very different trends in bone architecture and histology.” OK, stay with me now, I… [read more]
Ode to the blue whale
The ocean’s most impressive feature Is an 85 foot long 100 ton creature That roams the oceans’ deep With rarely a moments sleep The largest animal to ever live on earth The blue whale is legendary for its girth Their massive mouths defy the mind By lunch feeding their jaws unwind Gulping water until their… [read more]
8 amazing facts about Belugas
1. Belugas have a tough dorsal ridge along their backs that is used to break through sea ice. 2. They are one of the few whales or dolphins who can turn their neck and head. 3. Nick-named the sea canary, belugas have the most diverse set of vocal calls / songs compared to other marine… [read more]
Belugas: the white whales
What better way to start February than with a post about the beluga whale? Here we are in the midst of winter and have the chance to learn about the white whale living in the Arctic where it feels like winter all year. Belugas or Delphinapterus leucas belong to the unique family Monodon monoceros, that… [read more]
Gray Whales: on the road again
Imagine doing a major road trip for 5,000 to 7,000 miles. Now imagine making that trip 11 months pregnant. Now imagine making the return trip of 5,000 to 7,000 miles just three months after arriving and giving birth. Now imagine doing these two major road trips every year of your life until the day you… [read more]
5 fascinating marine mammal behaviors
1. Sperm whales hang out in groups of about 10 females with their calves. If a killer whale attacks, calves will be surrounded by the adults for protection. Sperm whales also use this strategy to protect injured whales. 2. Some dolphins coordinate their feeding by surrounding a school of fish in a circle. Then the dolphins… [read more]
Behavior in marine mammals
As fellow mammals, marine mammals spend a lot of time doing the same things we do. Shopping or hunting for food, eating, finding a mate, having sex, raising young, traveling and escaping bad guys are all activities occupying the time of marine mammals across the globe. But we have adapted to solid ground under our… [read more]
5 interesting beaked whale tidbits
1. Beaked whales live in the open ocean and spend their time deep diving for squid. 2. Most beaked whales have two throat grooves in the shaped of a V. 3. The family Ziphiidae (scientific name for the beaked whale family) has been around since the Miocene epoch, about 23 to 5 million years ago. 4.… [read more]
Beaked Whales: an introduction
The “B” section of the Encyclopedia of Marine Mammals has now taken us to the beaked whales, the toothed-whales belonging to the family Ziphiidae. Not as much is known about these whales that prefer to hang out in the deep ocean diving for squid. In fact, the 21 species of beaked whales have had so… [read more]
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