Cetaceans
Cetacean Lab
1. Using the Great Whales, by BBC. Write the complete classification of one baleen whale and one toothed whale. BBC
2. List in a chart a major behavioral, reproductive, and anatomical difference between baleen whales and toothed whales.
3. Watch the videos on baleen whale feeding strategies. After watching them, describe each of the strategies (gulping, skimming, bottom feeding, and bubble netting) in a few sentences. In your description try to include their swimming motion as well as how they use their baleen.
4. After watching some of the feeding behaviors on video. Explain what is the purpose of the grooves on the bottom of a baleen whales belly. If your still not sure you can check out Seaworld.org - Feeding Habits of Baleen Whales
5. Play the link to listen to a story about Right Whales. Although they are no longer hunted, explain what risks are these most endangered of whales are facing.
6. Use the following information and the long piece of paper you were given in class to create to scale (1 Meter= 1 Cm)drawings for the following 6 species. Your drawings can be very simple, but pay attention to the scale. [Human - 2 meters, Beluga - 4 meters, Blue Whale - 32 meters, Fin Whales - 27 meters, Sperm Whale - 20 meters, Killer Whale - 9 meters.] If you are struggling to make the drawings, look up each species in Wikipedia. Finally just for fun. Type "blue whale skeleton" into google maps. Zone all the way in. Does this help understand how big these animals are?
7. In your own words describe what the following whale behaviors look like: Breaching, Spy Hopping, Fin Slapping, and bow riding. Watch videos of these on Youtube.
8. Go to the website of the American Cetacean Society. Check out the fact sheets located in the menu on the left. Select one of the beaked or pigmy whales. There is much less known about these groups of whales. Describe two or things you learn about one of each.
9. The baiji or Chinese river dolphin was one of the only cetaceans to have adapted to freshwater. It is believed to have gone extinct in 2006. Click here and identify why.
1. Using the Great Whales, by BBC. Write the complete classification of one baleen whale and one toothed whale. BBC
2. List in a chart a major behavioral, reproductive, and anatomical difference between baleen whales and toothed whales.
3. Watch the videos on baleen whale feeding strategies. After watching them, describe each of the strategies (gulping, skimming, bottom feeding, and bubble netting) in a few sentences. In your description try to include their swimming motion as well as how they use their baleen.
4. After watching some of the feeding behaviors on video. Explain what is the purpose of the grooves on the bottom of a baleen whales belly. If your still not sure you can check out Seaworld.org - Feeding Habits of Baleen Whales
5. Play the link to listen to a story about Right Whales. Although they are no longer hunted, explain what risks are these most endangered of whales are facing.
6. Use the following information and the long piece of paper you were given in class to create to scale (1 Meter= 1 Cm)drawings for the following 6 species. Your drawings can be very simple, but pay attention to the scale. [Human - 2 meters, Beluga - 4 meters, Blue Whale - 32 meters, Fin Whales - 27 meters, Sperm Whale - 20 meters, Killer Whale - 9 meters.] If you are struggling to make the drawings, look up each species in Wikipedia. Finally just for fun. Type "blue whale skeleton" into google maps. Zone all the way in. Does this help understand how big these animals are?
7. In your own words describe what the following whale behaviors look like: Breaching, Spy Hopping, Fin Slapping, and bow riding. Watch videos of these on Youtube.
8. Go to the website of the American Cetacean Society. Check out the fact sheets located in the menu on the left. Select one of the beaked or pigmy whales. There is much less known about these groups of whales. Describe two or things you learn about one of each.
9. The baiji or Chinese river dolphin was one of the only cetaceans to have adapted to freshwater. It is believed to have gone extinct in 2006. Click here and identify why.