There is no doubt that one of the most imposing and impressive living beings in the animal kingdom is the whale, not only because it has been an object of human desire, from a literary perspective to a food source, but also because of its great significance to the ecosystem. Of course, there are many differences between the types of whales ; however, they all possess similar behaviors and capabilities.
Characteristics of the whales
These species are mammals from the large group of cetaceans, where porpoises and dolphins are also found. The word "whale" is exposed as a fairly free term that can generate confusion, referring as an example, the orcas, also recognized as killer whales, although these are not whales but a cousin of the dolphins. Usually there is a tendency to say this way to any large cetacean, more in this way it is not said correctly.
To be precise, the term "baleen whale" refers to the living beings of the Neobalaenidae and Balaenidae families . In contrast, cetaceans belonging to the Balaenopteridae family are called rorquals. This distinction leads to confusion, which is why efforts are being made to clarify their classification by separating the subspecies into baleen whales, which belong to the mysticetes subgroup, and toothed whales, which belong to the odontocetes subgroup.
What is the food diet of whales?
These large animals feed primarily on krill and tiny crustaceans such as amphipods and copepods, however the diet may vary gradually between species. They mainly employ two different types of feeding practices, such as foaming and gobbling. The second is done regularly among fin whales, which have folds of skin below the jaw that allow them to greatly dilate their mouths and thus gobble up large amounts of food.
The moment they manage to close their mouths, they need the water to be able to come out between their beards so that the food is entangled between the beards. Foaming is another practice very well used by right whales. They can manage to feed by moving slowly along the surface, forcing the passage of jets of water through their long beards, but the whole procedure does not stop there.
Unlike the first feeding technique, where they gulp their food, sloshing involves routine feeding. While some whales are known to use both feeding techniques, swallowing is the most common. It's interesting to ask what whales eat and how they eat it, as this helps distinguish them from sperm whales, which, being toothed whales, can hunt their prey, which are giant squid.
Curious information about the whale's baleen
Whales, unlike the sperm whale, have baleen to be able to eat, and through evolution they have enlarged and curved their upper jaw so that there can be immense baleen made of keratin, similar to the material of human fingernails and animal horns. These elements have irregular edges, have a triangular shape and are deformable and smooth. being arranged in the animal's mouth in parallel in two rows, similar to a comb, to optimize filtration.
They manage to have from 100 to 400 baleen, according to the type of whale referred to; these barbels are vital to the whales' diet and as they swim they fill their mouths with water and then, using most of the muscles of the throat and tongue, push all the liquid out of the mouth, leaving trapped all the food between the baleen. It can also be added that the fetuses of baleen whales have teeth, but then they are replaced by beards before birth.
reproductive cycle of whales
The recurring questions that arise when referring to this point are: How are whales born ? There is also the question of how these immense living beings manage to mate. Trying to answer this question, it can be said that whales reproduce sexually, in the same way as the various mammals that exist, requiring sexual contact between two individuals of different sexes where internal fertilization can occur.
In countless species, the reproductive cycle depends on the time during the year and in others, such as baleen whales, they obey migration. In the case of mysticetes, in both sexes there is an increase in hormonal activity when they are close to the breeding areas, probably due to changes in the time of the day or in the temperature of the water.
Due to the immense energy expenditure that a pregnancy generates for a female whale, the most usual thing is that baleen whales can multiply every two or three years. From another perspective, the odontocetes have alternate reproductive cycles with the difference of the sperm whales that, in the same way as the baleen whales, reproduce in an almost exact time of two and three years at a time, since the gestation lasts about 18 months and Sperm whale offspring remain with the mother for a long time.
It is curious that no species of cetaceans is monogamous, males can have sex with several females on the same day. Normally, there is usually great competition between males during the mating season. The females, for their part, are not calm beings, but rather impose their right to select their partner and not be able to be available to have sex with a male specimen that they do not like.
Quite strikingly, marking a difference from the rest of the baleen whales, there is very little rivalry among right whales when it comes to reproducing. They have chosen a more peaceful and calm option, instead of making serious confrontations, having a sperm fight. A certain number of males dispose of her sperm in the female, if she so desires, causing the sperm to battle each other to fertilize the egg. In other words, whoever gets her pregnant wins.
To ensure that his sperm opts for the chance to fertilize an egg from a female, the males of this type of whale have the largest male reproductive organs in the entire animal kingdom, weighing about 500 kilos each. in such a way that enduring so much sperm load, allows them to leave their sperm in a greater number of females and thus, increase the possibility of getting pregnant and also, of being a father and having offspring.
Habitual behavior of whales
The most famous normal behavior of whales is their distinctive leap. The humpback whale is the one that tends to leap most often . The purpose of these jumps is still not fully understood; several hypotheses have been put forward, such as the eradication of parasites, a warning to potential invaders, a call to others of its species, or simply a way of expressing itself and communicating.
Another quite recurrent behavior is to expose the pectoral fins on the surface, and hit the water with them repeatedly; It has also been possible to detail that they have been hit using the tail fins. The explanation for this behavior remains a perfect mystery and is supported by the same hypotheses as the jumps, written earlier in the present.
One very curious behavior exhibited by some whale species is espionage. Sometimes, they leave only their heads above water to observe their surroundings, as visibility in the air is better than underwater. This allows them to spy on potential attackers nearby, such as a group of orcas, knowing that these orcas also surface to track seals and penguins on the ice.
Knowing a little about the migration of whales
The main objective of migration is to find the best areas to feed and breed, with the difference of the tropical whale that stays for the entire year in warm waters and the Greenland whale that does not depart from polar waters, all In At first, the whales travel to the polar regions in summer because the removal of the ice causes a surge of life in these waters, favoring them to find the whales' choice food, copepods and krill.
At the moment that winter begins, the biological production of the polar seas drops, so the whales begin their migration towards the warmer waters of the south, to mate. The regions where they manage to conceive the majority are hardly known, it is estimated that in deep, tropical and adequate waters. Mothers with small offspring not long after they were born, spend much more time in these places so that the calf gains strength and develops sufficiently.
The object after this is that they start north; it is pointed out that mysticetes do not feed during the entire trip, which implies a significant consumption of energy. Speaking on the side of females with lactating offspring, they can lose up to 50% of their body mass. This energetic abnegation is done in order to boost reproduction, believing that calves are born and develop better in warm waters, since, in polar areas, in intense winter, there is no food.
There is, however, one caveat to this, and that is that the Greenland whales, belugas, narwhals or orcas, raise their children in those seas, which gives rise to the idea for scientists that the whales surely travel to breed far from polar waters and thus prevent killer whales, which do not steer elsewhere, from attacking and eating adult whales of the future.
Potential enemies of whales
Within the group that chases whales are killer whales, certain species of sharks, and inevitably, human beings. Referring to the Arctic, polar bears manage to attack the whales that are stuck, in addition to the killer whales that attack the offspring in principle, they form groups to separate the mother from the calf and thus be able to attack her. In a few moments, they also manage to attack adults if they see that they have a chance to successfully defeat it.
whaling industry era
Since its inception approximately 1000 years ago, the whaling industry has had a long and controversial history.
Speaking from the time of the birth of Christ, there are writings that the ancient inhabitants of this pose already took advantage of the whales that were stagnant, as a source of food. It was from the XNUMXth century that an industry of great exclusivity began, ready for whaling, with a bad period occurring in the XNUMXth century, where the request for whaling resources skyrocketed, placing the populations of these magnificent animals in a delicate situation. .
In any case, currently, the populations are still recovering from the exterminations of the last century. It is estimated that the initial trade in products derived from whales emerged in the year 1200 approximately, was founded on the coasts of France and Spain, and, in short, the Basques were the main ones to see the potential and use of this commercial item. .
Beginning in the XNUMXth century, the Netherlands, the United States, and Great Britain, as well as several other nations, were already engaged in a struggle for dominance over the best whaling regions. No part of the whales was voted, since the main, and most marketable of all, was whale oil, obtained by heating its fat, its profit was so impressive that at the time it was named as the liquid gold of the entire industry. whaling in general.
This compound was used to make numerous products such as paints, lubricants, soaps, machinery oils, shampoos, among others. It was also an essential component to illuminate the oil lamps that irradiated the houses of that time. Another weighty product that was derived from whales was baleen, which was also applied in certain products such as umbrella rods, brush bristles, among other products.
The trend of the nineteenth century was not going to be devoid of whalebones, where they were included as reinforcement in corsets, in skirts, and were even used as an article of hair beauty as an aid to tie and maintain complex manes. of the time. The meat of the whales did not result in Europe, except in times of famine, being more serious in wars.
The skin was used to make chairs, laces bags, shoes, among others. Blood was a very important component of fertilizers, sausages and adhesives; A very valuable resource at that time was ambergris, which comprised a waxy mass that is created in the intestines of sperm whales and that they manage to throw out naturally, without the need to elaborate it artificially.
Its main component consists of amberine, a liquid very similar to cholesterol, when exposed to air it spreads and floats, making it easier to catch. It was said that finding ambergris was like being a winner in the lottery, since immense fortunes were canceled for it. It was very well used to treat various physical difficulties, such as indigestion, but its greatest strength was as a fixative in cosmetics and perfumes, which were essential.
The bone remains were also not exempt from use after the animal died, the same whalers took advantage of the dead hours by decorating and molding them, creating chess pieces, ornamental details, buttons and necklaces. A curious fact is added, and that is that the Scandinavians used the intestines as an alternative option to apply it to the glass of the windows, corresponding to the houses.
Status of the whales today
Currently, whaling is carried out in a more controlled and regulated way than in previous times. For this reason, the International Whaling Commission was founded, whose principles of this institution were somewhat stormy, because they began by promoting this industry, which led to many species being on the verge of extinction. After these dismal events, they moved towards the goal of protecting the whales and in 1982 they managed to vote in favor of a moratorium.
The latter turned out to be indefinite for the whaling companies, despite many incomplete steps. Certain indigenous populations, such as the Inuit in Canada, and various small communities in Alaska, Russia, and Indonesia, are allowed to hunt a maximum number of whales per year, because these small societies depend on whales, including their style. life and daily dynamics.
Indicating several of the places where whale hunting is carried out, the main nations that persecute and hunt whales industrially are Japan, Iceland, Norway and Denmark, and specifically the Faroe Islands, although also in the latter, where they are caught pilot whales during the festival known as Grindadráp, the rest of the aforementioned republics, hunt only whales.
Norway was strongly against the moratorium, and as has been mentioned previously, this moratorium had many legal loopholes, so, by placing it in negative, according to the commission's legislature, they are allowed to hunt whales legal. Norway's annual payments are close to 500 whales, specifically minke whales.
From the beginning, Japan was also denied this moratorium, but some time later it redefined its hunting as captures to carry out scientific research, managing to take advantage of a legal vacuum of the International Whaling Commission (IWC), a loophole that manages to catch a large quantity, although not precise, of whales for the type of experiments proposed by the Japanese nation.
Faced with this situation, Japan manages to catch as many whales as it wants, estimating annual catches at around 400. However, these figures fluctuate from year to year, and this number doesn't include whalers operating outside the law or those who hunt unreported. Essentially, they hunt certain whale species to study their role within the ecosystem, but all of this meat is ultimately sold.
Norway and Japan are the main whaling countries, but since 2008 Iceland has joined the pack by resuming whaling with annual quotas of 100 minke whales and 150 fin whales. Currently, products are obtained from whales, such as spermaceti for cosmetics, ambergris for perfumes, meat for human consumption, whale oil for industrial uses; They are able to take advantage of both the liver for pharmacy products and hormones.
Families and description of the types of whales
Now that we have discussed the general characteristics of these cetaceans, it is appropriate to provide a brief description of the whale species and the families to which they belong. These include:
bowhead whale
Scientifically known as Balaena mysticetus , this cetacean, native to Greenland, has a large, robust body and lacks a dorsal fin. This species possesses a powerful jaw that accommodates approximately 300 long baleen plates, reaching a length of about 3 meters. Its skin is almost entirely black, with only a small white patch on its jaw.
It moves in small groups of no more than 5 whales, but in the regions where it supplies food they can manage to make large groups. They are the only ones that spend their entire lives in polar waters. Possibly, living in such low-temperature waters makes their metabolism excessively slow, which means that they are the ones with the longest life expectancy to date, managing to live up to 200 years.
The size of the Greenland whale concerns its sex, the male specimens are somewhat smaller than the females, while they manage to be 20 meters long, males reaching up to 18 meters. Adult whales can weigh up to 100 tons. The offspring emerge from the mother measuring about 4 meters and can weigh approximately 1000 kilograms.
Their diet is based on small crustaceans such as krill, and tiny mollusks. Similar to baleen whales, it feeds by straining water through its baleen and applying the gobbling technique, or by searching the seabed, removing mud with its tails in search of small seafood. Even, on certain occasions, a group of cetaceans can fish together, however, it is solitary.
It should be considered that they can live the entire annual period in polar seas, specifically they inhabit arctic waters, in the entire area around the glaciers, that is, in the Arctic, Alaska, northern Canada, northern Greenland, and northern Russia. Their movements or trips are restricted to following the path and retreat of the ice throughout the year in search of food. According to the IUCN, bowhead whales are listed as a species prone to many conditions.
Southern or Southern Right Whale
Scientifically known as Eubalaena australis, this whale is distinguished by the abundance of callosities on its head. These callosities function like fingerprints, as no two whales have the same markings. They develop during fetal development and are teeming with barnacles and amphipod crustaceans. Their function is not yet fully understood.
Very little is known about their social habits, on the coast they can be seen alone, in pairs, or in groups. It has a triangular complexion body and a color between black and gray, with the referring calluses of gray color and with some white tones, and without a fin on the side. Its large mouth contains 450 barbs, each between 2 and 2.5 meters long, which is quite impressive.
The dimension of the southern right whales is between 16 meters in length, and females can reach 17 meters and, in another perspective, it is usual to find males around 15 meters in length. Adults weigh between 40 and 60 tons. When conceived, the offspring measure an average of 4.5 meters in length, managing to weigh between two and three tons.
Southern right whales have a diet based on krill and copepods by straining the water around them. As their name suggests, they live in the southern hemisphere. They can be found in the South Atlantic, South Indian, and South Pacific; beginning in warm waters to Antarctic waters, never approaching tropical waters around the equator and tropical seas.
Little is known about its movement to other waters in search of food and where to reproduce, it is not certain about its destination during the main feeding season. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists the southern right whale as a type of whale that is not currently in danger of extinction or prone to greater danger.
Glacial or Northern Right Whale
Scientifically known as Eubalaena glacialis, this type of cetacean is characterized by a series of baleen plates on its head, each bearing approximately 300 plates, each about 3 meters long. Contrary to being a different species , the North Atlantic right whale has a body similar to that of the southern right whale. Its body is triangular in cross-section, it lacks a dorsal fin, and its coloration is darker than that of southern right whales, which are typically black.
There are also some that have white spots on the chin and belly. They have become one of the most affected species for decades with hunting, in fact, they have come close to extinction countless times. Currently, they are quite weak species to suffer accidents due to collisions with ships. The dimension of the glacial right whale alternates between 14 to 18 meters in length, and it manages to weigh between 30 and 70 tons. The females are larger than the males.
The offspring of this species are born having a length close to 4 meters and weighing almost 1000 and a half kilograms. Their diet consists of zooplankton, such as copepods and fish larvae, in addition to krill, their food par excellence. Being a case similar to that of its southern relative, it moves long distances swimming slowly and straining the water to get food.
They inhabit the polar and temperate waters of the North Atlantic, from the coasts of southern Greenland to the beaches of the North African region, and from the west coast of the United States to the eastern shores of Europe, where Norway, Great Britain, and , Spain and France, never without passing the limit of the equator. This impressive whale is listed as a threatened species in danger of extinction, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
North Pacific Right Whale
Scientifically known as Eubalaena japonica, it is also known as the North Atlantic right whale. It has a large, robust body that is black or dark gray in color. It possesses the same type of callosities as other right whale species. It lacks a dorsal fin and has a series of white spots on its lower belly. This imposing whale can reach up to 18 meters in length and weigh close to 90 tons.
In the same way as the rest of the whales, the female species are slightly larger than the males. When the offspring are conceived, they have a length of approximately four meters and manage to weigh close to a ton. Their diet consists of tiny crustaceans such as krill and copepods, filtered out by swimming slowly near the surface.
Emphasizing their name, these cetaceans inhabit the North Pacific. Due to the fact that its population has been greatly affected and reduced, its distribution is not known for sure. It is estimated that they live in the area of the Bering Strait (Sea) and the Gulf of Alaska, and in a narrow vertical strip from the Kamchatka Peninsula to the Japanese coast. Small populations have been seen in that area.
The preservation status of the North Pacific right whale is very precarious and weak, being listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as an endangered species. Making a calculation, it can be concluded that its total population does not reach 1000 individuals, which is quite worrying for the ecosystem and for those who care.
Pygmy Right Whale or Dwarf Right Whale
Scientifically known as Caperea marginata , this whale is very elusive, meaning it is quite difficult to find. This results in very little information about its existence. Similar to baleen whales, it has a slender, elongated body with a small dorsal fin, and its upper body is dark gray, while its underside is light gray.
Ignoring that many people use to call it in a vulgar way pygmy right whale, this species does not have the distinctive calluses that other types of right cetaceans have. This type of animal is, so far, the smallest mysticete known. Adults barely manage to reach seven meters in length and weigh close to 4000 kilograms.
There is no information on the weight and size of pygmy right whale calves. Their diet consists, like most baleen whales, of tiny crustaceans and krill. The regions where all these whales eat are not known; they inhabit the southern hemisphere, having previously been observed south of Argentina in Tierra del Fuego, South Africa, and Namibia, and off the southern coast of New Zealand and Australia.
Gray whale
Scientifically known as Eschrichtius robustus, these gray whales are characterized by their bodies covered in barnacles and other parasitic crustaceans, as well as numerous scars. They have a more robust and massive body than fin whales, but a more slender build than right whales. They lack a dorsal fin, and their heads tilt slightly downwards. The baleen plates of gray whales only reach about half a meter in length.
The gray whale is one of the many mammals that makes one of the longest journeys known, starting from Mexico to the coast of Alaska. According to various DNA and molecular studies and investigations, this type of cetacean is closer to fin whales than baleen whales; they tend to be quite curious and tend to get quite close to the boats. It is a bit shy species.
This type of whale manages to have a length close to 15 meters and can weigh up to 20 tons, with the females having a slight advantage in size and weight compared to the male. When they are conceived, their dimensions are 4.5 meters, approximately, managing to weigh about a ton and a half. They are not very fine when it comes to eating, it is the only one that manages to eat directly from the mud and sand.
It has the ability to suck up tiny benthic crustaceans along with a considerable amount of mud and water, which it then manages to release and filter through the baleen. It can be added that almost all of them manage to feed while lying on their right side. Gray whales, in ancient times, inhabited both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, but in recent times they are only found in the Pacific Ocean, precisely in the coastal areas of the central and northern Pacific.
In the Pacific Ocean, two different populations of gray whales coexist, one lives between the waters of Korea, Japan and the Kamchatka Peninsula, while the second population lives between Baja California and Alaska. The state of preservation is changing; While gray cetaceans off the east coast of the Pacific Ocean are classified as a minor problem, the whales off the west coast are in danger of extinction, according to the IUCN.
Fin Whale
Scientifically named Balaenoptera physalus, it corresponds to a type of rorqual, whose main characteristic is its coloration, having the upper part of a dark and grayish tone, while the lower part of the belly is lighter in color, but the characteristic or what attracts attention to its coloration is that it has a white spot in the lower right area of the head, while in the left region this is usually dark gray or black.
According to the morphology of a whale, it has a tiny fin on the side and from the tip of the chin to the navel, from 50 to 80 folds of skin that allow it to enlarge the skin and expand the volume of the mouth to be able to eat. larger amount of food. An adult has between 300 and 400 beards, each 70 centimeters long. There is research indicating that fin whales have a life expectancy of 100 years, on average.
The fin whale is considered the second largest living animal after the blue whale. The females have a length close to 20 meters, and the males a little less. It is estimated that adults can hold a weight of approximately 70 tons. The progeny of this type of whale is born having a length of 6.5 meters long, managing to weigh 1000 kilograms very accurately. Their diet consists of schools of small fish, krill and squid.
Boreal or Northern whale
Scientifically known as Balaenoptera borealis, the sei whale has a unique characteristic: whitish scars along its flanks. Its back is dark gray, while its underside is lighter. The folds on its belly are quite small and short, and its baleen plates are thinner and finer than those of most other whale species.
There is only little information about this cetacean because they are not coastal animals and coming across them on the high seas is quite difficult. Usually, all this compendium of specifications came from the whaling industry. The boreal whale is a medium-sized specimen, with adult males reaching 18 meters and females reaching up to 20 meters. They have an average weight of around 20 and 30 tons, without any problem, compared to the other species.
The offspring, at birth, manage to measure between four and five meters and weigh between one or two tons. Like right whales, bowhead whales routinely move along the surface of the water catching their prey, krill and copepods, rather than ramming their target as most minke or fin whales do. that are in this subgroup.
They inhabit all the great oceans of the world, tropical, temperate, and subpolar waters. It is quite usual to locate them in very deep waters and it is also preferable for them It is quite affected in danger of extinction, according to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN, for its acronym) thanks to uncontrolled hunting that has been to this breed of whales over time.
Bryde's whale
Scientifically known as Balaenoptera brydei , little can be said about its characteristics, as Bryde's whale is one of the great enigmas of this group, and is also difficult to spot in the wild, tending to inhabit areas close to the coast. In terms of build, it is quite similar to the sei whale, with a short, wide head and between 40 and 70 skin folds to enlarge its mouth. It has a dorsal fin, and its pectoral fins are thin and slender.
The tonality that it has on the back is a mixture between black and blue, having its belly with a cream or grayish color. For a few decades it was thought that the Bryde's whale and the tropical whale meant the same species, but genetic studies and research have proven the opposite, that in reality they are separate species and with different behaviors.
This whale has a length of 15 meters and its weight is around 40 tons, with small differences between females and males. The offspring, when conceived, manage to measure around 4 meters, and it is calculated, although not with the required precision, that their weight is approximately 1000 kilograms. Its diet consists of small fish, crustaceans and squid, enlarging its mouth as it moves, and then closing its mouth, releasing the water between its baleen, managing to catch its food.
They normally inhabit tropical and temperate coastal waters in much of the world's oceans. Unfortunately, there is not enough information to study and give an adequate appreciation of the preservation status of the Bryde's whale, however, there are brigades of professionals who continue to search for more information on this type of whale; This leads to say that he is shy.
Tropical Fin Whale
Scientifically known as Balaenoptera edeni, this whale species, like Bryde's whale, is not very well known, and little information exists about it. It may have been considered the same species (Bryde's) until recently. It has a small, dark gray back and a white belly. Its pectoral fins are thin and small, and its dorsal fin is sickle-shaped.
Certain groups of tropical whales do not travel or make rather short migrations, staying for a whole year in the same region. It corresponds to the second smallest whale, with adults having a size close to 12 meters and weighing around 12 tons. Unfortunately, there is not extensive information on the weight and dimensions of the minke whale offspring when conceived.
Fin whales follow a diet based on fish, cephalopods and crustaceans. Similarly, most whales, in order to eat, shock their prey with their mouths open, and then release the remaining water between their baleen. They usually inhabit the tropical and temperate waters of the Indian, Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN, for its acronym) does not have vast information to adequately classify its state of preservation.
Fin whale or Blue Whale
The scientific name is Balaenoptera musculus. It is undoubtedly one of the world's most important and famous cetaceans, being the largest and most imposing mammal and animal that has ever existed, according to the fossil record. It has an enormous, long, and slender body with a bluish-gray hue, lighter on the belly, and numerous spots along its back, covered in tiny light-colored patches.
They have 300 to 400 beards in each space of the mouth, each beard measuring a length close to one meter long and 0,5 meters wide. Under the mouth they have around 60 to 90 folds of skin. At the moment they are exposed to the surface, the air jet travels vertically, a distance of 10 meters. The blue whale ranks among the longest-living whales, with a life expectancy of around 90 to 100 years.
Based on their solid size, the only species that dare to stalk and charge them are killer whales. It can be added to this that the tongue of this specimen can reach the weight of an elephant, and its heart close to the weight of a medium-sized car. Indeed, it is said that the main arteries are so wide that a human being could pass through them.
Within this order of ideas, the blue whale is the largest mammal and living being that has populated the Earth in modern times. Its length is between 25 and 27 meters, the females being larger than the males; A few years ago, the largest recorded record of a 29-meter specimen occurred, although it is said that it has not been corroborated, it has been possible to find specimens greater than 30 meters, this being a great event.
In reference to an average weight, adult blue whales weigh between 100 and 120 tons, the record being held by a female specimen, which was fished and managed to weigh 180 tons. The calves of this type of whale are born having a length of 8 meters and weighing approximately 3 tons.
They employ the same practice as most rorquals, which surprise their prey by enlarging their powerful mouth, and then with the support of the tongue and mouth muscles, they release the water inside, using the baleen plates, trapping a large number of krill specimens, their favorite food and the most sought after by most whale species.
They inhabit much of the world's oceans, with the exception of smaller seas such as the Mediterranean and the Arctic Sea. In this perspective, these whales can be seen in deep water regions; the blue whale, highly coveted by hunters, is in danger of extinction, according to data from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Aliblanco or Minke Whale
Its scientific name is Balaenoptera acutorostrata. It is a type of whale whose main characteristic is a broad white stripe on each pectoral fin, although some individuals lack this stripe. Minke whales have a black back and a white belly, while their sides are grayish.
They have 200 to 300 beards with a length of 25 centimeters and between 30 to 70 folds of skin in the mouth to increase their ability to feed. It can also be added that minke whales are the most fished cetaceans today. The Minke's whale is the smallest of this type, measuring between 7 and 10 meters, with the females being the largest, weighing close to 7 tons.
At the moment of birth, the offspring have a length close to two and a half meters, having a weight that very closely reaches a ton of weight. Minke whales have a diet of tiny crustaceans such as copepods and krill, being captured in their baleen the moment they manage to get the water out of their mouths, being able to feed quite easily.
Normally, its ecosystem is found in the Pacific, Indian and Atlantic oceans, in the region of the northern hemisphere. According to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the Minke whale is not an endangered species, being classified as one of the cetaceans of least concern, moreover, it is closely followed for continue studies.
Minke Whale
Its scientific name is Balaenoptera bonaerensis . This type of whale is the counterpart of the minke whale, as the latter is found in the vast northern hemisphere, while this type of whale is located in the opposite hemisphere, the southern hemisphere. Previously, they were thought to be the same species, which explains the lack of specific information available about this particular whale.
These southern species have a slightly more robust build than other whale species in this group. Their backs are a shade between dark and light gray, while their bellies are white. They are known as one of the smaller baleen whales found in the vast oceans; they are similar in length to the minke whale, reaching between 7 and 10 meters in length and weighing between 5 and 9 tons. Females are larger than males.
The progeny, at birth, already measure between two and three meters in length and weigh close to a ton. Minke whales feed on krill and tiny copepods. They manage to obtain their food using the gobbling technique, where they take large amounts of water, to later release it through the baleen and catch a whole host of delicacies from the sea.
According to what has been mentioned before, the minke whales live in the southern hemisphere, in the waters of the Pacific, the Indian Ocean and the Atlantic and, of course, in the Antarctic region. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) does not have a sufficient amount of data to adequately assess the state of preservation of the populations.
Omura's whale
Scientifically known as Balaenoptera omurai , this cetacean is of short history and recent discovery. Through studies and research, it was initially mistaken for Bryde's whale, but in 2003, genetic testing of fished and beached specimens revealed that it could not be classified within that subgroup. Instead, it was identified as an unknown animal, which they named Omura's whale, directly linking it to Japan.
Thanks to its recent unveiling, there is very little information about this type of whale. It is known that they are quite solitary individuals and with the typical build of a fin whale, thin and long with the side darker than the belly. The adults of this subgroup are no more than 12 meters in length and, sadly, information on the weight of the adults and the weight and size of the progeny is not available.
Based on the presence of baleen, the conjecture is made that their diet is based on krill and tiny copepods, applying the same technique as the other types of fin whale species. There are even records of sightings and captures in the waters of the region very close to Thailand, China, Japan and Indonesia. Making the concept broader, the sightings have occurred in regions of the West Pacific coast.
It is not known for sure where their movement to other areas takes place, nor which are those regions where food abounds and reproduction occurs. In view of the fact that it is a species with little history, there is not enough relevant information to evaluate and point out the state of preservation of the quantities of species that comprise Omura's whales.
Humpback Whale or Yubarta
Scientifically known as Megaptera novaeangliae , this cetacean is distinguished by its large, powerful pectoral fins, which are the longest of any whale known to humankind. It has a robust build, with a prominent head and a small dorsal fin at the end of its body.
Its body has a black tone on the back, and may be white, gray or black on the belly. Its caudal fin is white below and black above, with numerous specks in the white region, which have unsurpassed patterns. Researchers and scientists use these patterns to find humpback whales, unique in their species and different from the rest of the cetaceans.
This species of whale has about 15 to 25 folds of skin, being below the mouth, with 200 to 400 baleen on the sides of the mouth. They have been the most studied cetaceans by scientists depending on their abundance and their curious behavior, this being reason enough for them to approach ships. It can be added that these animals can help a legendary business, which consists of whale watching, based on the hunting or capture of these species.
The humpback whale has a length between 11 and 16 meters, weighing around 35 tons and, as in the other cases, the females are larger than the males. This type of whale, being newborn, can measure 4.5 meters and weigh between one and two tons, approximately. Their diet is based on krill and tiny fish and invertebrates. In order to feed themselves, they apply a wide range of practices. The greatest is the daze with the tail and the bubble mesh.
The stunning is based on hitting the water with the front fins or the flow, in such a way that the noise it emits confuses the fish and thus it is easier to catch them. The bubble net is a group attack, one or several individuals swim around the school of fish, surrounding the fish in a bubble net released by the whales. Once the school is well compacted, certain whales emerge from the depths in a straight path and in a single bite manage to engulf.
Sperm Whale
Scientifically known as Physeter macrocephalus , the sperm whale's defining characteristic is that it possesses the largest brain in the animal kingdom and is the largest toothed whale in existence. Furthermore, it holds the distinction of having the largest set of teeth on the planet and is one of the mammals that can dive the deepest and farthest in the oceans.
Their heads are another major distinguishing feature of sperm whales, as their large size is quite striking, and their short, slender lower jaw complements their distinctive head. Sperm whales have between 20 and 30 teeth arranged laterally in their lower jaw. Their bodies may resemble those of gray whales , but they are not. They have a uniform gray color, though it can sometimes appear brown.
In all its texture it has many scars, which have been caused by its prey, the giant squid. Another important piece of information is that the life expectancy of sperm whales is on average close to 70 years and, like a large part of the odontocetes, they have the ability to use echolocation to find their prey and to have an adequate direction towards where to move
Sperm whales possess an organ that is incredibly coveted by the whaling industry, which is the spermaceti. Its functions are not well defined, but it is possible to predict that it fulfills a fundamental function in echolocation and buoyancy. Adult specimens reach a length between 15 and 20 meters, with a weight quite close to 55 tons. Contrary to baleen whales, male sperm whales tend to be larger than females.
The offspring, at birth, have an approximate length of four meters and manage to weigh very close to a ton and a half. Their diet consists of deep-sea cephalopods and some fish. He is the number one hunter of the famous and legendary giant squid, although it is still a mystery how they hunt, but based on the scars on his body, it is presumed that he has great fights with it.
Sperm whales live in all the oceans of the planet and in the Mediterranean Sea, very close or very far from the coast. Usually, they prefer tropical waters and moderate temperatures, however, it is possible to see a specimen in the pole zone. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN for its acronym) has classified the sperm whale as a species that is vulnerable and may be in danger of extinction.