What breathes kit? The appearance and structure of the whale

Who do you imagine when you hear about the whales? Someone will think about the huge blue giant, the most powerful marine animal. And someone will remember the killer whale from the movie "Free Willy". But no matter what sea inhabitant you have presented, the question always arises: what is breathing kit? How can he be a long time under water? Let's try to answer these questions.

Appearance

Whales – the huge mammals that are distributed worldwide. These giants live in all the oceans, and in both warm and cold. The peculiarity of their appearance are enormous size. So, the blue whale is the largest cetacean species. It can reach a length of over 30 meters and weigh with up to 150 tons. But there are small species whose dimensions do not exceed 2 meters.

It is Interesting that the head of the whale is huge and reaches 1/3 of the length of the whole body. The neck is very short and not noticeable. This raises the question: what breathes kit, if he had nostrils like all mammals? It turns out there is. On the head, but rather on its uppermost part, is a breathing hole. Have to say that toothed whales at the head of only one nostril, and have a baleen or two. We all remember the pictures where the whale is depicted with a fountain over his head. So this fountain is formed by the exhalation of the whale moist air, and by the form of the fountain you can see the whales.

Another common indicator of whale – the presence of powerful fins. And different species they are different sizes. It is this feature that enables them to develop considerable speed and gives great maneuverability. Interestingly, humpback whales have the largest pectoral fins that look like giant wings. And kick tail blue whale can sink a ship.

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Structure

Another distinctive feature is that Keith – the animal is warm-blooded, unlike all the other inhabitants of the oceans. This explains the fact that he can live in all seas, regardless of the ambient temperature. Huge fat layer, which in some whales reaches 1 meter, protects the animal from hypothermia. Interestingly, in the caudal part of the body of fat, and this explains the fact that the whale is not overheating while in the warm tropical waters.

Unique and also the brain of animals. The most developed in cetacean hearing. A well-known fact that whale song can be heard at the distance of tens of kilometers. They also have excellent echolocation, through which the giants perfectly communicate, and hunt and move in the water column. Vision they also developed well. With protective fluids released by certain glands, Keith is able to clearly see underwater. All other senses are developed quite poorly.

The respiratory System has its own characteristics: the lungs of a whale is not associated with the larynx. Thus, when you inhale is not swallowed water. Nasal openings located on top of the head, associated with light. But the whale breathes under water? The answer is simple: like all mammals, under water he holds his breath. His nostrils are closed when diving like valves. The brain commands the whole body to include a kind of retrenchment, with the result that the oxygen is supplied only to the heart and brain. This allows whales to dive to a depth of 2000 meters.

Baleen whales

The order Cetacea is the largest of all. To him include: blue whale, fin, seyval, humpback or a humpback, gray and bowhead whales, and minke whales. Do all these animals have one feature of the structure – they have no teeth, and instead have Horny plates, called whalebone mustache. This features a squad and got its name.

Baleen whales feed on small plankton or fish that comes their way. Interesting way of eating these animals. Keith opens a huge mouth and swallows a trifle along with a huge amount of water. Then, using a giant language as the piston pushes out the water and available food stays within the mouth without passing through his mustache. In this way, the whale consumes the day up to 6 tons of plankton.

Toothed whales

As everyone knows, this detachment has sharp teeth. Each individual species they differ in size and shape. This category includes sperm whales, orcas and dolphins. They differ in taste preferences. Dolphins like to hunt for fish, and the whales prefer a diet of seals and sea lions. Sperm whales, to a large degree prey on squid and cuttlefish, they dive to very great depths.

Toothed whales are excellent hunters. Often killer whales, which is also called whale killers can attack large baleen whales. Their favorite delicacy are huge languages, the rest of the whale is of little interest. As baleen whales for the most part are solitary animals, and toothed-schooling, often occur in attacks.

Picture

As the whale – the animal is warm-blooded, and the young are born fullyformed, like all mammals. What breathes kit when you see the light? A baby is born tail first and thanks to a caring mother your first breath does immediately after birth. The female pushes it to the surface so the respiratory system to operate fully, and opened the light, just as in humans.

It is also Interesting that baby whales drink milk. In adults there are two mammary glands, but the whale does not suck the milk, like all mammals, and receives it with injection. Near the nipple is a system of muscles that perform this function. In addition, the milk is very thick and dense, so that the baby is gaining weight very quickly – up to 100 pounds per day. Mother and baby are kept on the surface, because the baby still can not long time under water. The growth of a baby whale being improved in swimming and diving.

Whale Song

Also Unique way of communicating whales. These creatures are able to perform tunes. Often their singing is so harmonious and beautiful that it is able to calm and even sedate the person. It should be noted that not all of the singing giants. Especially these abilities have humpback whales, which is even called singing. Why do they make such sounds, it is still not known. Presumably this mating songs, but they can change from season to season.

The whale breathes easy. This amazing sea creature that has still a lot of unexplained mysteries for us. Until the mid 20th century whales were simply destroyed for the needs of mankind, and today many of them are protected.