Table of Contents
What is the GREY whale habitat?
Gray whales are found mainly in shallow coastal waters in the North Pacific Ocean, although during migration, they do sometimes cross deep waters far from shore.
Do whales have hide?
Whales are able to survive in deep or freezing polar water because of a layer of fat, called blubber , covering their entire body underneath the skin. Blubber is much thicker than the fat found in other mammals.
What are three facts about gray whales?
Fun Facts
- The gray whale is the only living member of the baleen whale family Eschrichtiidae.
- Gray whales earned the nickname “devil fish” because of their aggressive reactions when harpooned.
- Gray whales are predominantly bottom feeders and forage along the ocean floor.
- Females give birth to 4.9 m (16 ft.)
What clings to the back of a gray whale?
Often red patches can be found on the body of gray whales, these are usually cyamids or also known as whale lice. They will cling to the gray whale and feast on dead skin or the skin around the area barnacles have attached themselves too.
What does whale lice look like?
Appearance. The body of a whale louse is distinctly flat and considerably reduced at the rear. Its legs, especially the back three pairs of legs, have developed into claw-like protuberances with which it clings to its host. Its length ranges from 5 to 25 millimetres (0.2 to 1 in) depending on the species.
What is the white stuff on whales?
Those patchy white spots you see on gray whales are barnacles. Grays carry heavy loads of these freeloaders. The barnacles are just along for the ride. They don’t harm the whales or feed on the whales, like true parasites do.
What kind of animal is a gray whale?
Gray Whale. Facts. Map data provided by IUCN. Gray whales have a hump and a ridge of sharp bumps along their backs, instead of a dorsal fin. They are a type of baleen whale, which means they filter food from the water through special bristly structures in their mouths. Gray whales stay close to shore and feed in shallow water.
How does a gray whale stay warm in cold water?
In order to stay warm in cold waters the gray whale has a thick of insulated blubber which measure up to 10 inches thick. Compared to most other baleen whales, their baleen bristles are fairly short. Also, instead of having a dorsal fin like other species of whale, the gray whale has a small dorsal hump located down the far end of its back.
What kind of blubber does a gray whale have?
The gray whale has thick insulated blubber to stay warm in cold waters, which is up to 10 inches thick. Compared to most other baleen whales, their baleen bristles are fairly short. Instead of having a dorsal fin like other whale species, the gray whale has a small dorsal hump located down the far end of its back.
Why was the gray whale hunted to extinction?
During the whaling industry , which occurred between the 17th – 20th centuries the gray whale was hunted largely for its oil until the point of near became extinction. Fortunately with the aid of organizations and the government marine mammals such as the gray whale are now a protected species and hunting them is considered illegal.