Whale
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Whales are marine mammals, because most of them live in the oceans.
They are often very large. Whales are not fish like other mammals, they breathe oxygen from the air, and have a small amount of hair, and warm blood. Whales come in various shapes and sizes. Whales used to be killed for oil by whalers. However, many countries have passed laws saying that no one is allowed to kill whales anymore. Some people still do kill whales, even though it is illegal. Also, some countries have not made it illegal, while others make it legal only for native (indigenous) people. Whales are classified into three groups:
- Baleen whales: The big whales (like the Blue whale). They feed on krill, and do not have teeth.
- Toothed whales: Whales with teeth that feed on fish
- Dolphins (that live in the ocean)
- River dolphins
- Narwhal and Beluga whale
- Sperm whales
- Beaked Whales
- Porpoises: Those look like smaller, more sturdy dolphins. But they are different, esp. the head.
[edit] External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to:
Look up Cetacea in Wikispecies, a directory of species
Wikibooks Dichotomous Key has more about this subject:
- ARKive - images and movies of Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises
- American Cetacean Society
- British Cetacean Site especially interesting is taxonomy
- Cetacea.org homepage
- Walker's Mammals of the World Online - Cetaceans
- Tursiops.org: Current Cetacean-related news
- Whales, Dolphins, Porpoises and Cetaceans Forum
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