Whale. Latin name: 'Aspidochelone'.
Other names: 'Aspido testudo, Balain, Balayn, Balene, Cethe, Coine, Covie, Lacovie'.

'Balaenae nobis conservandae sunt' - Save the whales.

Humpbacks - Fins - Killer Whales

All whales are classified into the group called cetaceans (which comes from cetus, the Latin word for whale). There are two general categories of whales: toothed whales and baleen whales. Baleen whales have no teeth. To catch their tiny prey, they have fringed sheets of horny material called baleen where their teeth should be.

The Humpback whale's Latin name, 'Megaptera Novaeangliae', means 'Big-winged New Englander', and refers to the 15-foot pectoral (side) flippers which protrude from either side of the body. The head of a humpback whale is broad and rounded when viewed from above, but slim in profile. The body is not as streamlined as other rorquals, but is quite round, narrowing to a slender peduncle (tail stock). The top of the head and lower jaw have rounded, bump-like knobs, each containing at least one stiff hair. The purpose of these hairs is not known, though they may allow the whale to detect movement in nearby waters. There are between 20-50 ventral grooves which extend slightly beyond the navel. About 2/3 of the way back on the body is an irregularly shaped dorsal (top) fin. Its flippers are very long, between 1/4 and 1/3 the length of its body, and have large knobs on the leading edge. The flukes (tail), which can be 18 feet (5.5 m) wide, is serrated and pointed at the tips. Adult males measure 40-48 feet (12.2-14.6 m), adult females measure 45-50 feet (13.7-15.2 m). They weigh 25 to 40 tons (22,680-36,287 kg).
 

The Fin whale's Latin name is 'Balaenoptera Physalus'. Other Names: Finback, Finner, Common Rorqual Razorback, Herring whale.
Primary Classification: Mysticete (Baleen Whale). Sub Classification: Balaenopteridae. The fin whale is long, sleek, and streamlined, with a V-shaped head which is flat on top. A single ridge extends from the blowhole to the tip of the rostrum (upper jaw). There is a series of 50-100 pleats or grooves on the underside of its body extending from under the lower jaw to the navel. The fin whale is light gray to brownish-black on its back and sides. Two lighter 'colored' chevrons begin midline behind the blowholes and slant down the sides towards the fluke (tail) before turning and ending right behind the eye. The underside of its body, flippers, and fluke are white. The lower jaw is gray or black on the left side and creamy white on the right side. Adult males measure up to 78 feet (24 m) in the northern hemisphere, and 88 feet (26.8 m) in the southern hemisphere. Females are slightly larger than males. Weight for both sexes is between 50-70 tons (45,360-63,500 kg). Fin whales feed mainly on small shrimp-like creatures called krill or euphausiids and schooling fish. They can consume up to 2 tons (1,814 kg) of food a day.

 Killer whales, Latin name, 'Orcinus orca'. Like all odontocetes (toothed whales), killer whales have teeth, one blowhole opening, and are capable of echolocation. The killer whale is actually not a whale. It is the largest member of the dolphin family. Killer whales have a very distinctive black and white coloration. They are black on their upper surface with a while spot behind each eye. They are white on their lower surface. Male killer whales have straight, tall (up to 6 foot) dorsal fins while females have shorter (3 foot) sickle shaped dorsal fins. Killer whales have 46 to 50 cone-shaped teeth that interlock and are used to tear and grasp. The killer whale shares characteristics with whales, such as breaching, but it also reacts like the smaller members of the dolphin family. For instance, it is capable of spyhopping (a vertical position using its tail to keep it upright) to get a better view of its surroundings. Killer whales eat fish, squid, sea turtles, sea birds, and other marine mammals including seals and dolphins. Packs of killer whales are capable of killing and eating a blue whale. Killer whales live their lives in family groups called pods. These pods will range from 5 to 30 animals. These pods are quite stable and can last generations. They consist of an adult male, several breeding females, and various young killer whales. Killer whales hunt as a pack and are able to take down much larger animals. Female killer whales give birth after a gestation period of one year. The young killer whale is about 7 feet long at birth and will nurse for about 18 months.

Tyson Mackay - 'Giver of the holy stone'
Tyson's speciality is Killer whales

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