The gentle giants

WHALES All whales are mammals All whales are mammals Mammals share 5 characteristics Mammals share 5 characteristics 1. Breathe air 2. Give live birth 3. Nurse their young (with milk) 4. Have hair/fur 5. Warm-blooded Correct term is endothermic = maintain their body temperature internally Correct term is endothermic = maintain their body temperature internally

WHALE CLASSIFICATION Kingdom Animalia Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Phylum Chordata Class Mammalia Class Mammalia Order Cetacea Order Cetacea Suborder Odontoceti (toothed whales) Suborder Odontoceti (toothed whales) Suborder Mysticeti (baleen whales) Suborder Mysticeti (baleen whales) Toothed whale Baleen whale

BALEEN WHALES Highly migratory Highly migratory Average 3,000-5,000 km (1,800-3,000 miles) for mating and food Average 3,000-5,000 km (1,800-3,000 miles) for mating and food Population—worldwide population numbers are high Population—worldwide population numbers are high Some populations are depleted Some populations are depleted Six whale populations are endangered and protected under U.S. Endangered Species Act of 1973 Six whale populations are endangered and protected under U.S. Endangered Species Act of 1973 Blue, bowhead, fin, humpback, right and Sei whales Blue, bowhead, fin, humpback, right and Sei whales

BALEEN WHALES Blue whale Bowhead whale Fin whale Humpback whale Right whale Sei whale

OTHER LEGISLATION PROTECTING BALEEN WHALES International Whaling Convention (1946) International Whaling Convention (1946) 14 countries that regulate and monitors whale populations and funds whale research 14 countries that regulate and monitors whale populations and funds whale research Ex. Inuits are told how many whales they can hunt for their food Ex. Inuits are told how many whales they can hunt for their food Marine Mammal Protection Act (1972) Marine Mammal Protection Act (1972) MMPA made it illegal to hunt or harass any marine mammal in the United States MMPA made it illegal to hunt or harass any marine mammal in the United States According to the MMPA, all whales in U.S. waters (baleen and toothed) are under the jurisdiction of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). According to the MMPA, all whales in U.S. waters (baleen and toothed) are under the jurisdiction of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

OTHER LEGISLATION PROTECTING BALEEN WHALES Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) CITES is an international treaty that provides protection for wild animal and plant species in international trade. CITES is an international treaty that provides protection for wild animal and plant species in international trade. Promotes the conservation of endangered species while allowing trade in certain wildlife. Promotes the conservation of endangered species while allowing trade in certain wildlife. Species listed in Appendix I are threatened with extinction and are or may be affected by trade, therefore commercial trade is strictly prohibited. All of the great whales are listed on Appendix I. Species listed in Appendix I are threatened with extinction and are or may be affected by trade, therefore commercial trade is strictly prohibited. All of the great whales are listed on Appendix I.

WHALING IWC, 1946

SIZE Some of the largest animals on Earth Some of the largest animals on Earth Helps protect them from predators Helps protect them from predators Helps keep them warm (SA/V) Helps keep them warm (SA/V) Water supports their weight as water is more dense than air Water supports their weight as water is more dense than air Largest is the blue whale ~ 98 feet (30 meters) Largest is the blue whale ~ 98 feet (30 meters) Second largest is the fin whale ~ 90 feet (27 meters) Second largest is the fin whale ~ 90 feet (27 meters)

SIZE

BALEEN WHALES Body shape is fusiform = rounded in the middle, tapered at both ends, like a football Body shape is fusiform = rounded in the middle, tapered at both ends, like a football Very large heads Very large heads Heads are ¼ to 1/3 the entire length of the body Heads are ¼ to 1/3 the entire length of the body Upper jaw is elongated with long strips of baleen attached to it Upper jaw is elongated with long strips of baleen attached to it

BALEEN WHALES Baleen is made of keratin (same thing as your hair and nails) Baleen is made of keratin (same thing as your hair and nails) Stiff baleen is arranged in rows down each side of the upper jaw Stiff baleen is arranged in rows down each side of the upper jaw Used for filter feeding Used for filter feeding Outer edge of baleen is smooth Outer edge of baleen is smooth Inner edge is frayed and used as a strainer Inner edge is frayed and used as a strainer Right whales have the longest baleen ~ 13 feet long Right whales have the longest baleen ~ 13 feet long

Strips of baleen Right whale Baleen whale skeleton

FEEDING Baleen whales swim at or near the surface of the water with their mouths open Baleen whales swim at or near the surface of the water with their mouths open Food (zooplankton/krill) caught on the inner edge of baleen Food (zooplankton/krill) caught on the inner edge of baleen Water passes out sides of the mouth Water passes out sides of the mouth Blue whale feeding Humpback whale feeding

Lunge feeding humpback whale

PREDATORS Killer whales work together as a group to drown baleen whales Killer whales work together as a group to drown baleen whales Large sharks will feed on the ill, injured or very young Large sharks will feed on the ill, injured or very young