Did You Know

About Whales and Dolphins

The Smallest Whale

The smallest whale in the world is the dwarf sperm whale. This fun-sized species is even smaller than some dolphins! On average, it weighs 400 pounds, and reaches a length of about 7 feet.

The Largest Whale

Not only is it the largest species of whale, but the blue whale is also the biggest animal on the planet. This gentle giant can weigh up to 300,000 pounds, and some blue whales span as much as 100 feet—imagine two school buses! Even megalodon, the greatest shark that ever lived, was smaller than the blue whale. Sadly, there are less than 3,000 Antarctic blue whales left in the world; they’re listed as critically endangered due to commercial fishing practices in the early 1900s.

Baleen Whales and Toothed Whales

All species of whale are either baleen whales, or toothed whales. The easiest way to tell them apart is by how they feed. Baleen whales have baleen plates in their mouths that help them filter fish, zooplankton, and small crustaceans called krill from the water. Unlike toothed whales, baleen whales don’t use echolocation for hunting.

There are more species of toothed whales, and they use echolocation to hunt for fish, seals, squid, and other marine animals. Orcas have even been known to hunt great white sharks!

Dolphins Have Many Homes

There are 4 species of freshwater river dolphin that are only found in the Amazon, but most dolphins live in the ocean. Dolphins are highly adaptable and survive in water that ranges widely in temperature.

Killer Whales Are Dolphins

Oras, also known as killer whales, are actually the largest species of dolphin. Ancient sailors gave these dolphins their nickname after watching them hunt whales.

How Fast Can You Swim?

Dolphins usually cruise along at a leisurely pace, but they can reach speeds of up to 35 miles per hour when they’re really on the move. For reference, the average human swims at a rate of about 2 miles per hour, but even the Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps only clocks in at 6 miles per hour.

Some Whales “Sing”

Some species, like humpback whales, fin whales, and blue whales, are known to communicate through underwater songs. While both males and females are able to vocalize social calls, males create complex melodies that carry for miles. Scientists still have a lot to learn about whale songs.

Whistles, Clicks, and Chirps

Did you know that sound travels faster through water? Dolphins use echolocation to hunt prey, but they also make a lot of other noises, like whistling sounds, and clicks. In fact, they have a diverse range of acoustic options. Another chatty species is the beluga whale. In fact, their nickname is the “canary of the sea.”

Feast or Famine For Humpback Whales

Another interesting fact about humpback whales is that they don’t need to eat all year long. They migrate like some species of bird, and are able to live off of their fat reserves for several months at a time.

Smart Like a Dolphin

Bottlenose dolphins are one of the few clever species able to recognize themselves in a mirror. Dolphins have also been seen using marine sponges as tools to protect their beaks from sharp rocks. The use of tools is widely accepted as a sign of intelligence.

A Tusk is a Tooth

When you think of animals with tusks, you probably think of an elephant. But male narwhals have a single tusk that may be used to display dominance toward other males, or even help them break through the sea ice.

Whales and Dolphins Blow Bubbles

Some species of whales and dolphins blow bubbles to round up their prey. This is called bubble net feeding. Fish won’t cross through the bubbles. Dolphins will also slap fish with their tails to stun them. A stunned fish is easier to catch. When a dolphin does catch a fish, they prefer to swallow them head first. This is thought to prevent fish scales or spines from getting lodged in the soft tissue of their throat.

The Longest-Living Mammal ( Add Granny’s Southern Residents Story of Orca lived till age 106)

Whales can live for a long time. Not only are they the largest mammals on Earth, but whales are also the most timeless. Bowhead whales, for example, can live for over 200 years.

Whales and Dolphins Love to Mingle

Some whales and dolphins are more solitary, but many species tend to be social animals that travel and hunt together in groups. These groups are called pods, and they can have their own regional dialects. This linguistic curiosity is commonly observed with orcas. Sometimes bottlenose dolphin pods briefly gather to create a “superpod.” These superpods can bring more than a 1,000 dolphins together at one time!