Interesting facts about the majestic giants of the ocean
Despite living in the water, whales breathe air, and like humans, they are warm-blooded mammals who nurse their young.
HAVING an opportunity to catch sight of one of the ocean’s majestic giants, a whale, can be quite an exciting moment. However, did you know that there are over 40 different types of whales, such as the sperm whale, the humpback whale, the Orca (killer whale), the beluga whale, the blue whale, and the fin whale?
Each of these whales has their own and some quite unique traits.
Here are some interesting facts about whales:
Sperm whales have the largest brains of all animals. Whales communicate through sound. Baleen whales communicate using bass, and the toothed whales communicate using clicks. Sperm whales are the loudest of all animals. The sound they make is louder than a jet plane engine taking off. Whales have between three to four stomachs used for digestion.
The Baird’s beaked whale has 13 stomachs. Whales can live up to 100 years. The blue whale’s heart is about the size of a bumper car and weighs about 180kg. Whale poop helps in providing essential nutrients for other marine life. Extractions from ambergris (produced in a sperm whale’s digestive system) are used to produce perfume. The southern hemisphere whales take long-term breaks from feeding. They may not eat for about 5 to 8 months during their tropical breeding period.
Whales can shut down a side of their brain while resting and the other side will be active to keep them alert and allow them to breathe. Whale milk is almost 50% fat – a cow’s milk is 4% – allowing it to travel through water without scattering and dissolving because the mothers often shoot streams of milk into their babies’ mouths. Humpback females are larger than the males. Whales breathe air just like humans. They use blowholes on their heads to breathe in the air when they get to the surface.
Whales give birth to one calf each year.
Like humans have fingerprints, the tail of each whale is unique. Each whale has what we call a fluke print, and that is how whales are identified. If you are hoping to catch sight of these majestic giants, there are some great spots on The Bluff and surrounding areas with developed whale view sites in Finnemore Place, Netford Road and Airlie Road.Information and pictures supplied by: Sodurba Tourism Association
