Whales

CLASSIFICATION
Order: Artiodactyla
Kingdom: Animalia
Class: Mammalia
Phylum: Chordata

DESCRIPTION
A whale is a marine mammal. There are many different types and they can be found in waters all over the world. Hunted almost to extinction in the last century many species have become endangered. Find out more about this amazing creature using the resources on this page.

KEY WORDS
whale; chordata; humpback; southern right whale; migration; whaling; marine; beluga; orca; killer whale; narwal; mammal; cetacean; sperm whale; breaching; krill; dorsal fin; barnacle; blowhole; calf; cow; dolphin; echolocation; flukes; flipper; mammal; pod; spout; baleen

FOCUS QUESTIONS
Use these questions to guide your inquiry. You can use these questions to examine ALL whales or choose one type and explore it in much more depth. (Replace the word "whales" with your chosen type).

How many different kinds of whale are there?
Where are the various whale species found in the world?
How has the population of whales decreased in the last 100 years?
Why do whales migrate? Where do they migrate to and from? (This will vary from whale species to whale species)
What do whales eat? (This will vary from whale species to whale species)
How do whales protect themselves? (this will vary from species to species).
Why were whales hunted?
Where does whaling still occur today and which countries are involved?
Which were the main species of whale hunted inthe past?
Which species of whale are still hunted today?
What is the estimated number of whales that were hunted by whaling vessels before wide-scale whaling was banned?
When did wide scale whaling cease?
How are whales protected today?
Which countries still kill whales commercially today?
What is the rate of decline of the various whales species?
What are the main causes for the decline in population of the various whale species today?
When is it predicted that the various whale species will become extinct?
What role do whales play in the marine ecosystem and what is happening to that ecosystem as more and more whale species decline?
What would happen to the marine ecosystem if whales were to become extinct?

Types of whales
Listed here are some of the main groups of whale. There are many examples to be found around the world for each type.

Baleen whale
Beaked whale
Beluga whale
Blue whale
Bowhead whale
Dolphin
Fin whale
Humpback whale
Killer whale
Minke whale
Narwhal
Pilot whale
Porpoise
Pygmy killer whale
Right whale (northern and southern)
Sperm whale
Vaquita

RESOURCES
Whales- National Geographic
Whales - World Wildlife Fund
WDC - Whales and dolphins
Whales - Smithsonian
Whales, Dolphins and Seals
World Atlas - How many different kinds of whale are there?
Killer Whale facts (National Geographic)
Facts About Whales for Kids
WDC Kidzone
Whale Facts
Nature Mapping Programme - Orcas
Whale Facts and Worksheets