Questions and Answers
What is the purpose of the blowhole in a whale?
The dorsal fin of a male killer whale can reach six feet in height.
True
What is the function of the whale's ear?
It is a nonfunctional opening for sound perception.
A whale's eye is roughly the size of a ______.
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What do flippers in whales resemble in humans?
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What are tail flukes used for in whales?
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Mammary glands in female whales are located on the dorsal side of the body.
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What is the rostrum on a baleen whale?
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What are ventral pleats used for in whales?
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Study Notes
Whale Body Parts
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Blowhole: The whale's nose located behind the splash guard on its head, prevents water from entering the blowhole.
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Dorsal Fin: Acts as a keel to stabilize orientation; male killer whales can have dorsal fins up to six feet tall, while some species like gray and white whales lack dorsal fins entirely.
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Ear: Tiny, nonfunctional ear opening above and behind the eye; sound is crucial for communication and navigation, transmitted through the whale’s body to the inner ear rather than through the ear opening.
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Eye: Positioned on the sides near the mouth, allowing lateral vision. Whales have limited visibility ahead, and their eyes are about the size of grapefruits.
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Flipper: Equivalent to a human hand and arm, primarily used for turning; particularly large in humpback whales for efficient locomotion.
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Flukes: Tail lobes that serve as the main propulsion mechanism in swimming, moving vertically unlike fish which move their tails horizontally.
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Mammary Glands: Located on the ventral side near the tail, these glands produce milk. A calf nurses by bumping the gland to trigger milk ejection, allowing blue whale calves to gain approximately 200 pounds daily.
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Rostrum: A long, flat ridge on the top of a baleen whale’s head that extends from the blowhole to the mouth tip.
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Ventral Pleats: Grooves on the underside of the mouth that expand while feeding, allowing whales to increase their water intake significantly.
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Description
Test your knowledge of whale anatomy with these flashcards! Learn about various body parts such as the blowhole and dorsal fin, including their functions and significance. Perfect for marine biology enthusiasts!
