Which characteristic distinguishes whales as mammals rather than fish?
Understand the Problem
The question asks to identify the characteristic that differentiates whales as mammals, rather than fish. It provides four options, and we need to select the one that correctly highlights a key distinction between these two types of animals.
Answer
Whales breathe air using lungs, a key characteristic of mammals, unlike fish who use gills to breathe underwater.
Whales are mammals, not fish. A key characteristic that distinguishes whales as mammals is that they breathe air with lungs, unlike fish, which use gills to extract oxygen from water. Additionally, whales are warm-blooded, give birth to live young, and nurse their young, all of which are mammalian traits.
Answer for screen readers
Whales are mammals, not fish. A key characteristic that distinguishes whales as mammals is that they breathe air with lungs, unlike fish, which use gills to extract oxygen from water. Additionally, whales are warm-blooded, give birth to live young, and nurse their young, all of which are mammalian traits.
More Information
Whales evolved from land-dwelling mammals that returned to the ocean about 50 million years ago. Their adaptations for aquatic life include a streamlined body, flippers, and a tail fluke for propulsion, but they retain their mammalian characteristics.
Tips
A common mistake is to classify whales as fish because they live in the ocean. However, several key biological differences set them apart.
Sources
- Are whales mammals or fish? - Whale & Dolphin Conservation USA - us.whales.org
- What Differences Are Their Between Whales and Fish? - whalefacts.org
- Why are whales mammals and not fish? What are the characteristics ... - scienceline.ucsb.edu
AI-generated content may contain errors. Please verify critical information
