Cetacea

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As seen here, Cetaceans are clearly some of the ocean's coolest creatures


What makes a whale a whale? What about dolphins? Porpoises? Growing up, I was fascinated by these magical marine mammals, but I wasn't sure what exactly made them different from each other. Even though I knew they were different, somehow, I could tell that they all belong together in some way. 

From Blue Whales to Belugas and River Dolphins to Vaquitas, all species of Whales, Dolphins, and Porpoises are Cetaceans. Whales, Dolphins, and Porpoises all belong to the infraorder, Cetacea, because of several shared characteristics I'll be outlining below. 

Marine Mammals

All Cetaceans live fully aquatic lifestyles, which seems strange because these creatures are actually mammals. Being endothermic, or warm-blooded, is one of the aspects that separates Cetaceans from fish. Not all marine mammals are Cetaceans; animals like otters, walruses, and polar bears are also considered as marine mammals. However, in contrast to those species' half-ice, half-ocean lifestyles, Cetaceans live exclusively in the water. Basically, consider a Cetacean any marine mammal that lives exclusively in the water.

Stream-lined Bodies

Living life in water requires a hydrodynamic body shape, and Cetaceans utilize their stream-lined anatomy to reach top swimming speeds and to adjust to the everchanging depths of their environment. Similar to fish, Cetaceans also have fins, although the number and type depends on the species. Almost all species have a dorsal fin, but all species have a pectoral fin that help control locomotion. 

Large Size

Although Cetacean body sizes range from species to species, they are all relatively large mammals. Their large body masses serve the dual-purpose of preventing hypoxia and hypothermia. By utilizing their body mass for optimal oxygen storage, Cetaceans are able to avoid loss and lack of oxygen in their tissues. In addition, the Cetaceans' large fat reserves preserve body heat, preventing hypothermia in the ocean's deep depths. 

Carnivourous Diets

All Cetaceans have meat-based diets. Many have developed hunting techniques unique to their species, making the majority of Cetaceans the top predator in the food chain. 

Intelligence

Cetaceans are known for their intelligence and curiosity. They are one of the most social creatures in the world, and they have shown intelligence in both interactions with one another and interaction with humans. Their complex social and hunting behaviors indicate high emotional intelligence as well. Cetaceans have developed many languages to communicate with each other; this parallels to humans speaking English, French, or Japanese with each other. Additionally, the specialized hunting techniques individual species have utilized show advanced cognitive ability. There's even a term for this: Cetacean Intelligence.



https://nektos.net/galleries/cetaceans/

Cetacea - Wikipedia

List of Cetaceans - Meaning, Types And Characteristics (animalwised.com)

What Do Beluga Whales Eat? Diet & Eating Habits - Kylon Powell

Cetaceans: All About Whales, Dolphins And Porpoises - Dive Training Magazine (dtmag.com)

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