whale

Whale is a common name for large marine mammals belonging to the infraorder Cetacea. Modern whales are divided into two extant suborders: Mysticeti, or baleen whales, which filter-feed with baleen plates, and Odontoceti, or toothed whales, which hunt prey with teeth and often use echolocation.

Whales are fully aquatic mammals adapted to life in the ocean. They have streamlined bodies, a thick layer of blubber, forelimbs modified as flippers, and strong tail flukes for propulsion. A blowhole on top of the head serves as the whale's nostril for breathing at the surface.

Size varies widely. The blue whale, the largest animal ever known, can reach about 30 meters. Other large species include the fin whale, humpback whale, and sperm whale. Smaller toothed whales, such as belugas and beaked whales, inhabit similar environments but remain much less massive.

Feeding and diet: baleen whales filter large volumes of seawater to capture krill and small fish using baleen plates. Toothed whales hunt fish, squid, and sometimes other marine mammals, using teeth and, in many species, echolocation to locate prey.

Behavior and reproduction: whales migrate seasonally between feeding and breeding grounds. Reproduction typically involves long gestation periods (around 11 to 17 months), with calves nursing for months to years. Lifespans vary by species but many live multiple decades.

Conservation: whaling caused drastic declines in many populations. A global moratorium on commercial whaling was adopted in 1986 by the International Whaling Commission, though some nations continue hunting under exemptions or for indigenous subsistence. Today, threats include entanglement in fishing gear, ship strikes, pollution, climate change, and noise pollution, with conservation efforts targeting population recovery and habitat protection.