Ocean mammals have long captured our
attention and our hearts. However, you might know some of the following
interesting facts about our relatives in the sea:
1. What is Flipper doing with
Sponge Bob? Dolphins have been observed using sea sponges as they
scavenge for food on the ocean floor. It is believed that they use
the sponges to protect their noses from being scratched.
2. Orcas, other wise known
as killer whales, are not whales. They are actually the largest
species of dolphin.
3. Orcas got the name "killer
whale" after being observed killing whales for food. In fact,
the orca is the only natural predator of humpback whales. About
fifteen percent of all humpbacks have scars left after an orca attacks.
4. Although they are known
for their ability to kill whales, an orca's diet consists more of
fish. However, they have also been observed eating sea birds, dolphin,
sharks, seals, and even swimming deer and moose.
5. Some dolphin species, such
as orcas and bottlenose, have been observed beaching themselves
on purpose in order to go after their prey.
6. The smallest species of
dolphin, the vaquita, is only four feet long and lives only in the
Sea of Cortez.
7. Most dolphins sleep just
below the surface of the water, surfacing frequently to breathe.
They are also known to sleep with one eye open.
8. Dolphins are not only found
in the oceans. There are several species of freshwater dolphins.
9. Dolphins use sonar to locate
their prey, similar to bats do. Some freshwater dolphins are blind,
and their only method of guiding themselves is their sonar.
10. Bottlenose dolphins are
capable of creating sonic booms that exceed 230 decibels, which
stuns the fish.
11. Dolphins communicate by
clicking and whistling at each other. Each dolphin has a "signature
whistle" that it uses to identify itself to other dolphins.
12. The largest mammal on Earth
is the blue whale. The largest blue whale ever seen was 113.5 feet
long and weighed approximately 170 tons.
13. The blue whale is not only
the largest animal, it is also the loudest. The call of a blue whale
can reach up to 188 decibels and be heard hundreds of miles away.
That is almost three times as loud as a human can shout and even
louder than a jet.
14. The heart of a blue whale
is about the size of a Volkswagen beetle, but only beats about six
times a minute. Its tongue is so large that fifty people could stand
on it and it weighs more than an adult elephant.
15. Baby blue whales are about
twenty to twenty-five feet long at birth and weigh between five
to seven tons.
16. Narwhals, long believed
to be related to the mythical unicorn, have what appears to be a
long horn that protrudes from the front of its head. The horn is
actually an overgrown tooth that pierces through its upper lip.
17. Sperm whales are capable
of diving more than two miles down, over 10,000 feet, in search
of food.
18. Sperm whales also have
the largest brain in the world. Its brain is seven times larger
than the average human brain. The next largest brain belongs to
the orca.
19. Beluga whales are one of
the few species of whale that do not have a dorsal fin. However,
they do have extremely flexible necks, which enable them to turn
their heads independently of their bodies.
20. The fastest whale is the
fin whale. They are capable of swimming over thirty-five miles per
hour as the chase after their prey.
21. A new species of whale
was discovered as recently as 2002 when scientists found a long-nosed,
toothless species living off the California coast. The species prefers
to live deep in the ocean and feeds on squid.
22. There are two main groups
of seals: ear-less or true seals, eared or walking seals. Eared
seals can then be broken down into two new groups: fur seals and
sea lions.
23. Although fur seals have
some ability to walk on land, sea lions are capable of pulling their
hind limbs forward, which enables them to use as back legs when
walking on land. Seals are not capable of doing this.
24. The U.S. Navy has been
training sea lions to detain scuba divers. The sea lion carries
a cuff in its mouth that is attached to a long rope. The animal
attaches the cuff to the person's leg, which allows the person to
be reeled in.
25. A southern elephant seal
is the largest seal. Males can grow over 20 feet long and weigh
up to 8,800 pounds.
26. Southern elephant seas
are capable of diving 5,000 feet deep and may remain underwater
for more than two hours.
27. The scientific name for
walrus, Odobenus rosmarus, is Latin for "tooth-walking sea-horse."
They got this name after they were observed using their tusks to
haul themselves out of the water. Besides using its tusks to pull
itself out of the water, a walrus will also use them to break breathing
holes into the ice from below and as protection.
