What body parts do whales use for survival?

When present, the dorsal fin is helpful for stability and has no support in the way of bones. 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.

How can blue whales survive?

Because they live underwater, blue whales need highly efficient lungs to survive. Their lungs exchange 80-90% of oxygen, as opposed to humans who only exchange 10-15%. The trachea extends all the way to the center of the lungs to help adapt to its diving habits.

How does the blue whale protect themselves?

Well, whales protect their young similarly to how they’d protect themselves – by traveling in pods. Again, by traveling in numbers, whales make it harder for sharks or orcas to target a specific member. If they feel threatened, though, whales will form a circle with their head facing inward, tail facing out.

What are the whales body parts?

Terms in this set (9)

• Blowhole. The blowhole is the nose of the whale.
• Dorsal Fin. Dorsal means topside.
• Ear. The ear opening is a tiny, nonfunctional hole located behind and slightly above the eye.
• Eye. The eyes are located on each side of the body, near the base of the mouth.
• Flipper.
• Flukes.
• Mammary Glands.
• Rostrum.

What body parts does a blue whale have?

The blue whale has a wide head, a small dorsal fin located near the fluke, and 80–100 long grooves running lengthwise down the throat and chest. Its mouth contains up to 800 plates of short, wide, black baleen, or “whalebone,” with thick, coarse bristles used for catching food.

Do blue whales have dorsal fins?

Their dorsal fin is small, triangular and located in the last fourth of their body, further back than most whales. The dorsal fin is around one foot (30 cm) in length and their flippers are relatively short, compared to overall body length, only 12% of body length.

Do blue whales fight?

Like almost every other animal, whales have a “fight or flight” response to being attacked.

Can whales fight sharks?

Orcas will even attack and kill great white sharks just to eat their livers which are a high energy food source.

Why do blue whales have dorsal fins?

“(The dorsal fin) helps them slip through the water more efficiently. Similar to the ears of elephants or the tongues of dogs, dorsal, caudal and pectoral fins also help eliminate excess heat during intense activities such as hunting.”

What are whale fins used for?

These massive fins help the whales navigate shallow waters, accelerate rapidly and increase their maneuverability.