Whale quiz - marine science

how many species of toothed whales are there

about 77

how many species of baleen whales are there

15

what are the characteristics of a mammals

• homoerotic meaning they are warm blooded and can maintain homeostasis

• viviparous- live birth and nurse young 

• breath air

• have hair or fur at some point  

what are baleen plates made out of and what do they do

the plates are made out of keratin and they filter out small food like plankton and krill by gutting, bubble netting, and skimming 

what is baleen whale migration patterns 

• in spring the go to cold waters to feed because in spring their are plankton blooms 

• in winter they go to warmer waters to give birth and breed

what were the diffrent species of whale evolution

pakicetus to ambulocetus to rhotocetus to basilosaurys to dorudon

what type of whale uses echolocation

toothed whales

what is echolocation used for

• hunting 

• communication 

what is the melon

the melon is a organ on toothed whales that is made up of lipids and carries out echolocation

sperm whales have a very large melon 

what are some reason that a whale might beach

• choppy waters

• illness

• confusion 

• following family 

• gentle sloping shores 

• toxic algae blooms 

what are the different frequencies of whales and what is the significance behind the frequencies  

• baleen whales have to have low frequencies sounds because they are mostly solo animals so their sounds need to travel far. 

• baleen whale sound travels about 100 miles 

• toothed whales have high frequency sounds because they are more social and live in pods and do not need their sounds to travel as far

what allows whales to dive so deep

• they can collapse their lungs by pushing air out through their blowhole  

• regulate their heart rate 

• they can stop blood flow 

what is the difference between hemoglobin and myoglobin

hemoglobin:

• transports oxygen from the lungs to the body  

• this is found in red blood cells 

• releases oxygen easily 

myoglobin 

• storing oxygen

• does not release oxygen as easily 

• releases oxygen during muscle contractions 

how do whales collapse their lungs

• push oxygen out of the alveoli to the bronchioles 

• this prevents decompression sickness 

• actively pushes air out of lungs when ascending