Whale Body Parts Flashcards

Study Notes

Whale Body Parts

Blowhole: The whale's nose located behind the splash guard on its head, prevents water from entering the blowhole.
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.
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.
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.
Flipper: Equivalent to a human hand and arm, primarily used for turning; particularly large in humpback whales for efficient locomotion.
Flukes: Tail lobes that serve as the main propulsion mechanism in swimming, moving vertically unlike fish which move their tails horizontally.
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.
Rostrum: A long, flat ridge on the top of a baleen whale’s head that extends from the blowhole to the mouth tip.
Ventral Pleats: Grooves on the underside of the mouth that expand while feeding, allowing whales to increase their water intake significantly.

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!