1. Whales Dolphins Porpoises
Cetaceans
Whales
Dolphins
Porpoises

2. What are Cetaceans?

3. Scientific Classification
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Mammalia
Order Cetecea
Suborder Mysticeti
Suborder Odontoceti

4. What is a Cetacean? Mammals Have blubber for insulation and buoyancy
Breathe air through a blowhole (nostrils)
Endothermic
Bear live young (viviparous)
Nurse young
Have hair at some point during life
Have blubber for insulation and buoyancy
Live from the poles to the tropics
Coastlines, open water, bays, harbors, estuaries, lagoons
Some even live in brackish water

5. What is a Cetacean? Forelimbs are modified into flippers No hind limbs
Horizontally flattened tail – called a fluke
Bodies are streamlined
About 90 spp of whales, dolphins, porpoises
All are marine, except 5 spp of freshwater dolphins
Divided into 2 groups
Mysticetes – the toothless, filter feeding whales (Baleen whales)
Odontocetes – the toothed, carnivorous whales (includes dolphins and porpoises)

6. The Baleen Whales AKA The Great Whales Suborder Mysticeti – 13 spp
Have long, stiff, bristly plates of baleen
Hang down along each sides of the upper jaw
Used for filter feeding
Made of keratin (same as hair and nails)
Many have pleats (or throat grooves) that run from their mouths down to their bellies
These expand allowing the whale to take in more water at a time (which leads to more food)

7. Baleen

8. The Baleen Whales
Range in size from 20ft (pygmy right whale) to 90ft (blue whale)
Females are typically larger than males
Blue whale is the largest animal to ever live
Avg is ft, tons
Record is 110 ft long
Two blowholes
Solitary, except during feeding and migrating
Only social bond is between mother and calf

9. The Toothed Whales Belong to suborder Odontoceti
About 80 spp
Range in size from 4.9ft (vaquita) to 53 ft (sperm whale)
Males are typically larger than females
One blowhole
Teeth are used to catch and hold prey, not chew (they swallow food whole)
Tend to be quite social and live in pods that exhibit complex social structures

10. Migration – Baleen Whales
Travel to the poles for feeding during the summer and to the tropics for birthing during the winter
Travel miles one way
Gray whales migrate over 6000 miles one way
Use environmental cues for navigation:
Sun orientation
Ocean floor topography
Temperature
Chemical changes in the water
Food availability
Magnetic sensing

11. Migration – Toothed Whales
Only some migrate
Usually migrations are much shorter distances than the baleen whales
Migrate in response to variations in water temperature and food availability, but rarely travel outside of a “home range”
Sperm whales are the only toothed whales to migrate long distances regularly

12. Physical Characteristics
Streamlined – “hydrodynamic”
Toothed whales have a round, bulging “forehead” called a melon
Plays a role in sound production
Blowhole (nostrils) on top of head for breathing
More on this later!

13. Physical Characteristics
Pectoral fins contain bones and vary in shape from species to species
Toothed whale flippers tend to be short and wide
Baleen whale flippers tend to be long and skinny
Each tail lobe is called a fluke
Flukes are fibrous connective tissue (no bone)
Used for forward movement
Dorsal fin is located on back side
Used for stability while swimming fast
Range in size from 6 ft tall (orca) to a few inches in height (sperm and blue whales)
Made of fibrous connective tissue (no bone)

14. Physical Characteristics
Eyes are on the side of the head, near the corners of the mouth
Ears are located just behind the eyes and are small and inconspicuous
Teeth
Conical in dolphins
Spade-shaped in porpoises
Peg-shaped in belugas
Number of teeth varies between species and depends on the main food source

15. Physical Characteristics
Skin
Smooth with few or no hairs
Whales shed their skin continuously
Some whales encourage shed by rubbing on rocks or the ocean bottom
Coloration
Most exhibit variations of black, white, or gray
Some are spotted or mottled
Most exhibit countershading
Great camouflage for the open ocean

16. The Senses Hearing Sight
Most rely on hearing, not sight, in the ocean
Sound travels 4.5x faster in water than in air
Can hear a variety of frequencies, many of which are outside of our range of hearing
Sight
Most have good vision in both water and air
Can see better in low intensity light
River dolphins and others that live in really murky, sediment filled water have very poor eyesight or may even be blind – rely on echolocation instead
Not much is known about touch, taste, and smell in cetaceans

17. Adaptations for Survival in the Ocean

18. The Blowhole(s)
Covered by muscular flaps that are voluntarily opened and closed as needed
When a whale breathes out through the blowhole, a spout is created
A spout is formed when the water vapor in the exhaled air condenses as it hits cool air causing water droplets to form
The spout varies from species to species in size and shape
Blue whale spout can reach 30 ft tall
Gray whale spout is more heart shaped
Right whale spout is V shaped

19. Blue Whale
Bottlenose Dolphin

20. Humpback Whale
Blue Whale
Gray Whale

21. The Blowhole(s) Blowholes give these animals an advantage
Can breathe while leaving most of body underwater
Can feed without drowning
Can take very quick breaths – 2 seconds
Respiration patterns differ between species
Gray whales – 3-5 min dives, then surface and blow 3- 5 times at second intervals
Toothed whales exchange 80% of their lung volume with each breath, while baleen whales exchange 80-90% with each breath
Humans only exchange about 17% with each breath

22. Swimming Cetaceans swim by up and down movements of the flukes
Pectoral flippers help with steering
Baleen whales are typically slow movers, whereas the toothed whales tend to move much faster
At high swim speeds, some toothed whales porpoise at the surface: they swim fast enough to break free of the water, flying up and out and then back under in one continuous movement, which is repeated
Uses less energy than swimming fast in water
Some species ride ocean swells or a boat’s wake which allows them to go faster and uses less energy

23. Diving There is a wide range of diving abilities
Baleen whales = no more than 300 ft for 3-5 min
They feed on plankton that are only found in the photic zone
Dolphins = 1000 ft
Dive for fish and other food
Sperm whales = minutes to depths of ft (2250 m) to feed on squid

24. Diving Long, deep dives require several adaptations
They must be able to hold their breath for long periods of time
Have more blood than other mammals and it contains a higher concentration of red blood cells, and these cells carry more hemoglobin
Muscles are rich in myoglobin (stores oxygen)
When they dive, heart rate slows dramatically
Blood flow to non-essential body parts is reduced
Flexible rib cage collapses due to the water pressure, which causes lungs to collapse – prevents the absorption of nitrogen gas (causes the Bend’s in us)

25. Thermoregulation How do whales maintain constant body temp? Blubber
Insulation - slows heat loss
Can be as thick as 20 in (depends on species)
Makes whales more streamlined
Acts as an energy reserve is food is sparse
Large body size reduces heat loss
When a whale dives, circulation of blood decreases near the skin, reducing heat loss

26. Echolocation Sensory system based on hearing (sonar)
Most toothed whales and some baleen whales
How does it work?
Emission of sound waves, which travel about 5 times faster in water than in air
Listen for the echoes that are reflected back from surrounding objects
The echoes are analyzed by the brain
The time it takes to “hear” the echo tells the animal how far away the object is

27. Echolocation
Sounds consist of short bursts and sharp clicks that are repeated at different frequencies
Low frequency sounds can travel long distances and are used to obtain info on the surrounding topography and may also be used to stun prey
High frequency clicks are used to find more detail and locate nearby prey
A fatty structure on the forehead of toothed whales, the melon, appears to focus and direct the outgoing sound waves

29. Behaviors

30. Breaching
A whale powerfully thrusts a large part of its body out of the water and lands (or crashes) on the surface, usually on its side or back
Some species breach often (humpback whale, sperm whales, dolphins, orcas), while others rarely breach (blue whales, porpoises)
Purpose is unknown

31. Lobtailing
Lobtailing: slapping tail flukes on the surface of the water
Likely function in communication

32. Pec-slapping
Pec-slapping: slapping a pectoral flipper on the surface of the water
Creates a loud sound and is likely used for communication as well

33. Spyhopping
Spyhopping: occurs when a whale rises out of the water somewhat vertically, exposing only its head region
Used to scan the area

34. Play Behaviors
Many species play with food or floating objects like logs, kelp, and feathers
Individuals have been seen swimming on their backs for no reason
Dolphins play with rings of bubbles they create
Sex play (the rubbing and touching of genitals) is also common

35. Other Behaviors
When an individual is in trouble others will help due to bonding within the pod
Dolphins belong to a complex society
Long-term partnerships of members of the same sex play an important role in sexual behaviors parental care, and other aspects of daily life

36. Social Behaviors - Pods
Most toothed whales are highly social and live in groups called pods
The type of pod formed depends on the species
Some pods include all related individuals
Some pods are based on sex and/or age
Some pods are nursery pods (mothers/calves)
Pods typically show social hierarchy, with one sex being more dominant

37. Social Behaviors - Pods
Size of pod varies between species
Sometimes pods will come together to form a herd
Common dolphins and dusky dolphins have been seen in herds of individuals
When a herd splits, there can be an exchange of some pod members

38. Social Interactions Social interactions may include:
Tail-slapping
Head-butting
Jaw snapping
Chasing and charging
Bubble blowing
Rake or scratch each other with teeth
These interactions may be for competition or to establish dominance

39. Communication
Produce a wide variety of sounds that are different than those used for echolocation
Sounds include grunts, barks, squeaks, chirps, and “moos”
Sounds are associated with moods and are used in social and sexual signaling
Whistles are characteristic of each species are and used to identify each other
However, killer whales have been known to have “dialects” – each pod has a different whistle

40. Communication Sounds are used for other reasons as well
Maintain distance between individuals
Play important role in structure of pod
Certain sounds are emitted during breeding, feeding, alarms, and birth
Communication also takes place through postures and movements
Clapping jaws together (dolphins)
Head butting
Pec-slapping, lobtailing, breaching

41. Foraging and Food
Baleen whales eat zooplankton and small schooling fish
Toothed whales feed on various fishes and squid, but have been know to eat shrimp and other crustaceans as well
Some killer whales will eat other marine mammals and seabirds
Food preferences can vary between pods and depend on location and the availability of food in that location

42. Hunting in Odontocetes
Many toothed whales hunt cooperatively to obtain prey
A group of bottlenose dolphins will encircle and herd a large group of fish into a dense mass, then take turns charging through the school to feed
Some species of dolphins (and baleen whales) will work together to create a bubble net to trap a school of fish
Other species of dolphins will create a mud trap in shallow waters to trap fish
Some dolphins will trap fish against the shoreline in shallow waters and then use hydroplaning to capture the fish

43. Hunting in Orcas
Can purposely beach themselves in order to capture seals and sea lions
Have been known to work together to drown great whale calves in order to feed on them
Pods found in polar waters have learned how to dislodge seals from floating pieces of ice
There is even a pod of orcas in New Zealand waters that prey on rays

44. Whale Footprints
A whale’s 'footprint' is the disturbed water it leaves on the surface of the ocean when the whale flicks its tail or fluke with a downward stroke.
Sometimes whales can be tracked by following the footprints

45. Whale Footprints
Humpback Whale
Gray Whale

46. Life and Death in the Sea

47. Gestation Baleen whales – 10-14 months Toothed whales – 7-17 months
Depends on species
Linked to annual migration cycle
Toothed whales – 7-17 months
Bottlenose dolphin – 12 months
Sperm whale – 15 months
Belugas – months
Killer whales – 17 months

48. Birth Baleen whales Toothed whales
Calves are typically born during the winter and spring in tropical and subtropical breeding grounds
Warm climate is optimal for survival of the calf
Toothed whales
For tropical species, claves can be born throughout year
Polar species typically give birth from spring to summer

49. Birth
All whales usually give birth to one calf at a time (twins are extremely rare)
Most calves are born head first, however there have been cases of tail first births
The umbilical cord snaps at birth

51. The Calf All calves are well developed at birth
Once born, the calf must immediately swim to the surface for its first breath
For baleen whales and large toothed whales, size of calf at birth is approximately ¼ the length of the mother
Smallest is 5 ft – pygmy right whale
Largest is 23 ft – blue whales
Toothed whale calves all vary in size and depend on species
All calves nurse from their mothers and can nurse up to a year, depending on species

53. Maternal Care Mother-calf bonds are very strong
Mothers stay close to their calves and direct all movements
Baby is typically carried along by the mother’s slip stream (requires less energy)
Baleen whales – mother and calf stay in close contact until weaned
Toothed whales – calves stay with mothers long after weaned, and many times will stay together for life
Mothers are very protective of their calves and become very aggressive when defending calf
Calves learn everything from their mothers

54. Longevity
Largely unknown in wild populations because its difficult to study
Toothed whales
For some of the smaller species, like porpoises, it is believed they only survive about 20 years
For larger species, like the sperm whale, its estimated that they can live 70+ years
Baleen whales
Anywhere from years, depending on species

55. Predators Orcas prey on a variety of other cetaceans
Sharks will prey on some whales, especially sick, injured, or young whales
Polar bears will prey on belugas and narwhals
The polar bears will wait and breathing holes and will attack when one surfaces

56. Beaching (aka Stranding)
A beached or stranded animal is a marine animal that is out of its element (the ocean)
Usually caused by illness, injury, weakness or disorientation
All toothed whale species have been known to beach
Coastal species are more likely to strand though
Most common – pilot whales, false killer whales
If one beaches, many others will also beach due to the relationships within a pod
Navy sonar is thought to have a huge affect on beaching – beached whales near sonar usage showed hemorrhages in the brain and inner ears

58. Whaling
Whaling is an old tradition that has been happening for a long time
Started as early as 6000 B.C. – Stone Age
Many other groups of people have also hunted whales since
Hunted for:
Blubber – provides oil that was used to make soap and lamp oil
Baleen – used to make corsets and other goods
Meat
Early on, hunted using a harpoon

59. Indigenous and Small-scale Whaling
Indigenous people from coastal areas have relied on whaling for survival for thousands of years and still continue to do so today
Only small numbers of whales are killed
Has very little to no impact on the overall whale populations found in our oceans

60. Commercial Whaling
At this point, the massive baleen whales (esp the right whales) were targeted:
Contain the most blubber and baleen
Typically coastal
Slow swimmers
Bodies float when dead
Once the right whale numbers decreased, they moved on to hunting humpback, blue, and fin whales and then minke whales
Toothed whales were also hunted including the sperm whale
Whaling greatly increased in the 20th century due to more modern harpoons, explosives, and ships

61. Entanglement in Fishing Gear
Many whales get tangled in fishing nets and other gear
Caused a significant impact on whale populations throughout the world
Whales that are injured or killed because of this entanglement are called bycatch
Likely hundreds of thousands of marine mammals are killed as bycatch every year
Many fishermen follow dolphin pods in order to find tuna
When the nets are released or hauled in, dolphins become trapped

63. Pollution
Chemicals that are used on land enter waterways through runoff and eventually end up in the oceans as pollutions
Pollutants come from mining operations, agriculture, pulp mills, and other coastal industrial developments as well as household and garden pesticides
Many of these pollutants enter the food chain and become more concentrated in higher level consumers (dolphins, orcas, belugas, pilot whales)

64. Competition with Fisheries
In many areas, toothed whales have to compete with fishermen for the same fish
Commercial fisheries have depleted the fish populations in many areas causing the whale populations to be depleted as well
Sometimes whales will steal fish from nets or longlines, and will sometimes be killed for this

65. What are we doing to help???
International Whale Commission (1946)
US Marine Mammal Protection Act (1972)
Endangered Species Act (1973)
IUCN/The World Conservation Union (1948)
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) (1973)

66. Marine Zoological Parks
Provide opportunities for scientists and the public to learn, up close, about whales and how human activities may impact their survival
Scientist can examine aspects of whale biology that are difficult to study in the wild
Many have programs for rescue, rehabilitation, and release