Portal:Cetaceans
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Cetaceans evolved from land mammals that adapted to marine life about 50 million years ago. Over a period of a few millions of years during the Eocene, the cetaceans returned to the sea. Their body is fusiform (spindle-shaped), the forelimbs are modified into flippers, the tiny hindlimbs are vestigial and the tail has horizontal flukes. Cetaceans are nearly hairless, and are insulated by a thick layer of blubber.
Cetaceans inhabit all of the world's oceans, as well as some rivers in South America and Asia. Some species can be found across the globe.
Cetology is the branch of marine science associated with the study of cetaceans.
Right whales are baleen whales belonging to the genus Eubalaena. Three right whale species are recognised in this genus. Sometimes the family Balaenidae is considered to be the family of right whales. Bowhead Whale, which has its own genus, Balaena also belongs to the Balaenidae family, and so is sometimes considered a right whale.
Right whales can grow up to 18 m (60 feet) long and weigh up to 100 tonnes. Their rotund bodies are mostly black, with distinctive callosities (roughened patches of skin) on their heads. They are called "right whales" because whalers thought the whales were the "right" ones to hunt, as they float when killed and often swim within sight of the shore. Populations were vastly reduced by intensive harvesting during the active years of the whaling industry. Today, instead of hunting them, people often watch these acrobatic whales for pleasure.
More on Right whales
[edit] 2009
[edit] February
- 10 February - Filipino fishermen have rescued around 200 melon-headed whales which were stranded in shallow waters off the coast of Bataan. Only three dolphins were reported to have died. more
[edit] January
- 24 January - The Cove, a feature-length film documenting the killing of dolphins in Taiji, Wakayama, wins the U.S. Audience Award at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival. more
- 22 January - A group of nearly 50 Sperm Whales beached on the northwest coast of the island of Tasmania in Australia. Only five were still alive by Friday afternoon. more
[edit] 2008
[edit] September
- 23 September - Speculation is raised over whether an object washed up near Wellington, New Zealand could be ambergris; City Council spokesman Richard MacLean says this is unlikely. Read more...
- 17 September - A man in Trefriw, Wales pleads guilty to the uncertified selling of a Harbour Porpoise skull on eBay. Read more...
- 10 September - Australia and New Zealand announce a non-lethal whale research program to challenge Japan's whaling. Read more...
[edit] August
- 26 August - Findings from the controversial Japanese whaling research program suggest that a loss of Antarctic sea ice due to increased temperatures has lowered whales' food supply, causing an overall decline in blubber. Read more...
- 12 August - IUCN changes the conservation status of the Humpback Whale and Southern Right Whale to "least concern" due to the species' recovery. Read more...
- 1 August - Snubfin Dolphins are recorded on camera for the first time along the Australian coastline. Read more...
- ...cetaceans are believed to have evolved from land mammals.
- ...Herman Melville included an objective study of the properties of whales in Moby-Dick.
- ...a male dolphin named Cinderella was unofficially married to a human woman.
- ...sound made by whales can be extremely loud, with 163 decibels recorded.
- ...about 2000 whales may be beached each year.
Subcategories of Cetaceans:
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Spyhopping is the act of coming out of the water vertically and momentarily staying out of the water in a manner akin to a human treading water. A powerful individual can spyhop as much as half of its body out of the water. The reasons for spyhopping are likely to be similar to those of breaching. Further spyhops may well be used so that the whale can examine its surroundings above the surface — for instance to look at boats. For this a spyhop may be more useful than a breach, because the view is held steady for a longer period of time.
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