Fast Facts: Beluga Whale

-

 

The Beluga Whale's plump head makes it look cheerfully smiley all the time. I think this animal exudes cheer and playfulness. Even the name 'Beluga' sounds fun. 

The Beluga Whale : Delphinapterus leucas

Description: Beluga Whales are characterized by their white skin and unique rounded head shape. Calves are born with dark gray skin which lightens as they age; the maturity of a Beluga Whale can be determined when it's completely white. Unlike most whales, the Beluga Whale doesn't have a dorsal fin as indicated by the genus name. Instead, it has a dorsal ridge which allows it to maneuver and swim under the Arctic's sheets of ice. Beluga Whales can reach lengths of up to 18 feet and weigh up to 3500 pounds; it's one of the smallest whale species in the world. 

Habitat: Beluga Whale distribution ranges from the Arctic to the Subarctic. They live in the Arctic Ocean and its surrounding seas, including the Bering Sea, Hudson Bay, and Sea of Okhotsk. Beluga Whales swim amongst icebergs in shallow coastal waters where temperatures reach freezing. However, in the summers, Beluga Whales shift to habitats in warm freshwater estuaries. Several, but not all populations, make seasonal migrations; other populations stay in the same general area year-round.    

Diet: As carnivorous opportunistic feeders, Beluga Whales prey on over 100 kinds of sea animals, including crabs, squid, octopus, and fish. This diverse diet is a result of limited types of prey during different areas and seasons of the oceans. 

Behavior: Ranging from 2 to over a hundred, Beluga groups hunt and migrate together as one powerful pod, although occasionally, individual Belugas can be found as well. These creatures are generally very social; several types of vocalizations used by Belugas have been recorded in the wild such as chirps, squeals, and clicks. Belugas have also been observed to playfully nudge, chase each other, and engage in other various social acts. Additionally, generation after generation, Belugas return to their original spawning grounds.

Conservation Status: Listed as Least Concern, all Beluga Whales are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, enacted in 1972. However, pollution, habitat degradation, disease, and other human disturbances still negatively affect Beluga populations which have declined about 75%. 

Unique Traits: Known as the "canary of the sea", the Beluga Whale is able to produce its unique vocalizations because of its melon, the round shape on the top of its head. This squishy struction is how Belugas modify their vocalizations; when moved around in different directions, the melon focuses sound in those directions. Researchers have even observed the melon shape move during vocalizations! A Beluga's head can also move, unlike other whales. This is due to the fact that its neck vertebrae aren't fused, which allows nodding and side to side head movement. 

As stated above, Beluga Whales are known for their shiny white skin. However, this skin doesn't just stay this way! Several populations shed their outer layer of old, yellowed skin in an annual molt by rubbing against coarse gravel in the ocean. Not many animals have the ability to use their surroundings as tools, and this behavior is just one example of the Beluga's intelligence. 



https://animalsake.com/beluga-whale-adaptations

https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/beluga-whale

https://seaworld.org/animals/all-about/beluga-whales/habitat/

https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/beluga-whale

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Fast Facts: Maori Wrasse

-
Image
Known by many names, including the Humphead Wrasse and Napolean Wrasse, this fish is known as a king of the coral reefs.    The Maori Wrasse :   Cheilinus undulatus Description : Reaching up to 2 meters in length and 180 kg in weight, t he Maori Wrasse is the largest species in the Wrasse family. They are easily distinguishable by the hump on their foreheads, which become more prominent with age, as well as their puffy lips. Based on the age and gender of a Maori Wrasse, its color patterns vary from red and orange to yellow and green and blues.  Habitat :  Found in the Indo-Pacific's tropical waters, the Maori Wrasse tends to cling to the temperate-coastal habitats of Australia. Maori Wrasse can inhabit all types of reefs, from rocky reefs by the shore to off-shore reefs reaching depths of 60 meters.  Diet : Maori Wrasse are carnivorous creatures that feed primarily on crustaceans, mollusks, and other benthic creatures. They may even eat smaller fish! Maori Wrasse are significant t
Read more

Fast Facts: Yellow Tang

-
Image
This fish is one of the most recognizable species in both the Great Barrier Reef and Gen Z's childhoods.    The Yellow Tang:   Zebrasoma flavescens Description : The Yellow Tang's bright full-body yellow coloration is what makes distinguishes it from other Tangs. They can grow up to around 8 inches in the wild and have a white barb used for defense and attack on each side of the base of their caudal fin; these barbs are considered to be modified scales of the Tang.  Habitat : A Yellow Tang lives in saltwater reefs all over the world, however, they are most commonly found near Hawaii; about 70% of the Yellow Tang population lives in these waters. This species is native to the Pacific Ocean but may also be found in the Atlantic Ocean.  Diet : As herbivores, Yellow Tangs feed exclusively on plants. Algae is their preferred food source, and Yellow Tangs may even eat the algae off of turtles as part of a symbiotic relationship.  Behavior : Although they do tolerate other individuals
Read more

Fast Facts: Giant Clam

-
Image
   Not something you'd find at your local buffet.  The Giant Clam:   Tridacna gigas Description : As the largest mollusks in the world, Giant Clams can reach a size of four feet long and weight of 500 pounds. A Giant Clam's main feature, its shell, is made up of two halves that can open and close through use of a hinge. Although their shells range in various sizes, colors, and patterns, all Giant Clams have a fleshy interior mantel that can weigh up to a quarter of the clam's weight! Habitat : These mollusks are primarily found in waters of down to 20 meters in depth in the Indo-Pacific region and other tropical and subtropical areas. Because of their shallow environment, Giant Clams thrive in coral reefs where they embed themselves into the sand. In particular, they thrive in habitats with high calcium carbonate levels that strengthen their shells.  Diet : Through the filter feeding process, Giant Clams gain energy from their main diet of phytoplankton. However, Giant Clam
Read more