the beluga By Oliane and luis

Animal's n beluga The beluga, or white whale, is one of the smallest species of whale. Young belugas are called calves

SPECIES –Facts about Belugas: The beluga, or white whale, is one of the smallest species of whale. Their distinctive color and prominent foreheads make them easily identifiable. Unlike most other whales, the beluga has a very flexible neck that enables it to nod and turn its head in all directions. Belugas like to spend a lot of time at the surface spyhopping and slapping their tails. Young belugas are called calves. When they are born, they are gray or even brown and only fade to white at around five years old. Belugas are the size of large dolphins and range in size from 13 to 20 feet (4 to 6.1 meters) in length. They are toothed whales. They have rounded bulbous foreheads and no dorsal fin. They often have thick folds of blubber on their bellies. Belugas generally live together in small groups known as pods. They are social animals and very vocal communicators. Their diverse language has human-like qualities and includes clicks, whistles, and clangs. Belugas can also mimic a variety of other sounds. These whales are common in the Arctic Ocean's coastal waters, but they are found in sub-Arctic waters as well. Arctic belugas migrate southward in large herds when the sea freezes over. Animals trapped by Arctic ice often die, and they are prey for polar bears, killer whales, and for Arctic people. They are hunted by native people of the Arctic and have been overhunted by commercial fisheries. Some beluga populations have declined drastically in the Gulf of St. Lawrence due to fishing. Belugas eat fish, crustaceans, and worms. The whale is related to the tusked "unicorn" whale known as the narwhal. The beluga is not related to the fish of the same name, which is often fished for its famous caviar. Fast Facts The scientific name for belugas is Delphinapterus leucas. Belugas are mammals and are carnivores because they like to eat meat. They have bulbous foreheads called a melon. A beluga’s heart can weigh 12 pounds. Calves stay close to their mothers and they have been seen riding on their backs. They live for 35 to 50 years in the wild. Belugas are on the small side for whales, They are usually 13 to 20 feet (4 to 6.1 meters) long. The largest male belugas are about 3,000 pounds (1,361 kilograms) and females are about 1,900 pounds (862 kilograms).

information ANIMALS THE –BELUGA –A–A –FROM –VERRY –POPULAIRE –.–. –IS –HABI

physiology Adult beluga whales are easily distinguished by their pure white skin, their small size and their lack of dorsal fin. The beluga has a broad and rounded head and a large forehead. Belugas are toothed whales. They have broad, paddle-like flippers and notched tails. The Cook Inlet beluga whale is a small, isolated subspecies of the beluga whale currently facing critical threats. small size and their lack of dorsal fin. The beluga has a broad and rounded head and a large forehead. Belugas are toothed whales. They have broad, paddle- like flippers and notched tails. The Cook Inlet beluga whale is a small, isolated subspecies of the beluga whale currently facing critical threats

Diet Beluga whales eat whatever fish species are most common including salmon, eulachon, tomcod, smelt, char, rainbow sole, whitefish, saffron and arctic cod, herring, shrimp, mussels and octopus

Behavior : Belugas forage for food on the seabed. This typically takes place at depths of up to 1,000 feet, but they can dive to at least twice this depth. Belugas congregate and travel in groups from 2-3 to as many as several hundred. Some are migratory within their limited range while others remain residents of a particular area. They are found close to shore or in the open sea. During the summer months in some areas they gather in the estuaries of rivers to feed and calve. Did You Know? Beluga whales exhibit a wide range of vocalizations including clicks, squeaks, whistles, squawks and a bell-like clang. Reproduction Mating Season: Late winter-early spring. Gestation: 15 months. Number of offspring: 1 calf. Young belugas are uniformly dark grey in colour. The grey steadily lightens as they grow up - reaching their distinctive pure white color by the age of seven for females and nine for males. Calves nurse for about two years.

Special information : Though the global population of belugas is around 100,000, the Cook Inlet population consists of just over 300 animals.

Beluga

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