The Big Boys
I was quite astonished to learn that there were close to 80 different living species of whale in two suborders, the Mysticeti (baleen whales) and Odontoceti (toothed whales). Although the term " whale" can refer to all members of the order cetacea in general usage the word is used to refer to the members of the Mysticeti. The Odontoceti are, with the exception of the Sperm and Killer whales, usually called either porpoises or dolphins.
The Mysticeti are a group of species which include the magnificent blue whale, the various Minke whales, bowhead whale and others. The smallest baleen whale is the pygmy right whale which weighs in at 3 to 3.5 tons and is 6 to 6.5 meters long so it's still big as a bus. The Wikipedia lists 15 species in 6 genuses belonging to the order Mysticeti. The most famous of these being the right whale (because it was the right whale to hunt), the humpback whale, and the previously mentioned and incredible blue whale, the largest animal to have ever graced this fair Earth.
What distinguishes the Mysticeti from the toothed whales is that they have, instead of teeth, a baleen plate which filters food from the seas in which they swim. The whale will open it's mouth take in as much water as it can hold then expel it through the baleen comb in the whale's upper jaw to extract tiny sea creatures such as krill. Baleen is, by the way, made of keratin, the same substance that makes up your finger nails.
Baleen whales have been hunted by man since the 11th century and whaling was an important early industry in the US. At its peak in the mid 1800's the whaling industry in the United States employed about 70,000 people and had more than 700 ships working the ocean's for whale.
The Not Quite So Big Boys
The Odontoceti, as I mentioned, include porposes, dolphins, and sperm whales. All the members of this order are carnivores and use echo location to find and sometimes kill or stun their prey. They differ from the baleen whales in that they have teeth and a single blowhole (the baleen whales have two), and are, for the most part, smaller than the Mysticeti.
One of the differences between porpoises and dolphins is the shape of their teeth. Dolphins have conical teeth while porpoises have flat spade-shaped teeth. Other notable differences between these two families of cetacea is that the dolphin have extended snouts or beaks known as a rostrum and are the larger of the two. The porpoise, on the other hand have a blunt snout and, of course, are generally smaller.
Some of you may remember Flipper who I remember as being called a porpoise back then. As you can see from the picture that Flipper is a dolphin of the species known as common bottle-nose dolphins. They are the largest of the beaked dolphins. They are intelligent social animals and many have been captured and trained to entertain us in oceanariums across the world. Bottlenose dolphins are also the subject of many scientific studies testing the extent of their intelligence and ability to communicate.
Another member of the dolphin family is the Killer Whale or Orca. It is the largest member dolphin family and can be found in all the ocean's of the world. There are likely 2 and possibly 5 distinct subspecies of Orca. The Wiki breaks them down
into 3 groups: Resident, Transient, and Offshore. The feeding habits of these separate groups differ. The Resident and Offshore seem to feed primarily on fish and squid, while Transient groups feed on marine mammals (seals, sea lions, and other whales).
Orca are also intelligent animals who live in complex social structures consisting of matrilines of 5 to 6 related whales. Four or Five related matrilines will form a "pod", a loose grouping that may break up and regroup over time. Resident Orca will live with their mothers their entire lives which can be as many as 90 years.
The largest toothed whale is the sperm whale. You may have heard of the most famous of this species, perhaps you've even read his story or seen the movie.
Sperm whales primarily feed on squid but will take fish when the opportunity presents. Their foraging dives can last more than an hour. This whale has the largest brain of all the species on earth. I wonder what it is they think about. Perhaps they think on the insanity of man.
"Aye, aye! and I'll chase him round Good Hope, and round the Horn, and round the Norway Maelstrom, and round perdition's flames before I give him up. And this is what ye have shipped for, men! to chase that white whale on both sides of land, and over all sides of earth, till he spouts black blood and rolls fin out. What say ye, men, will ye splice hands on it, now? I think ye do look brave."
What say ye now, me hearties? Do we end the madness? Do we save the white whale? I to, think ye do look brave.
You should know that the Navy performs extensive sonar testing that has been shown to be harmful to our aquatic siblings. It is time for it to stop. Add your voice to ours and drown out the sonar. Sign the petition. Sign on now!
The Navy has made the site below available for comments on their on their future sonar testing and training exercises as part of an environmental impact statement.
The Navy is required to include comments on their Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) re: the use of high frequency underwater sound for testing in Hawaii, the California and Atlantic Coasts, and the Gulf of Mexico. According to their estimates it will deafen more than 15,900 whales and dolphins and kill 1,800 more over the next 5 years. Whales and dolphins depend on sound to navigate and live. Your signature and comment will have to be included in the EIS and could stop this Naval program, potentially saving the lives of these ocean creatures. The comments must be in by July 10, 2012 (today).
Commenting Period Ends on 11:59 PM CST, Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Submit oral or written comments at the public open house meetings
Submit comments via this project website
Mail comments to:
Naval Facilities Engineering Command Atlantic
Attn: Code EV22 (AFTT EIS Project Managers)
6506 Hampton Blvd.
Norfolk, VA 23508-1278
It is time to recognize cetaceans as equals. They deserve no less.
The Helsinki Group's Declaration of Rights for Cetaceans
Following their 2010 conference on Cetacean Rights, the Helsinki Group put together a Declaration of Rights for Cetaceans (which includes all whales, dolphins, and porpoises). Their ten point declaration goes like this:
Based on the principle of the equal treatment of all persons; Recognizing that scientific research gives us deeper insights into the complexities of cetacean minds, societies and cultures; Noting that the progressive development of international law manifests an entitlement to life by cetaceans; We affirm that all cetaceans as persons have the right to life, liberty and wellbeing. We conclude that:
- Every individual cetacean has the right to life.
- No cetacean should be held in captivity or servitude; be subject to cruel treatment; or be removed from their natural environment.
- All cetaceans have the right to freedom of movement and residence within their natural environment.
- No cetacean is the property of any State, corporation, human group or individual.
- Cetaceans have the right to the protection of their natural environment.
- Cetaceans have the right not to be subject to the disruption of their cultures.
- The rights, freedoms and norms set forth in this Declaration should be protected under international and domestic law.
- Cetaceans are entitled to an international order in which these rights, freedoms and norms can be fully realized.
- No State, corporation, human group or individual should engage in any activity that undermines these rights, freedoms and norms.
- Nothing in this Declaration shall prevent a State from enacting stricter provisions for the protection of cetacean rights.
Excellent. Now all we need to do is include all the great apes and elephants.
You can formalize your support of the Helsinki Declaration here.
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7:47 PM PT: There's only a little more than an hour before the request for comments is closed. Please, take a moment and sign the petition and send your comment to the Navy. Here's a quick and easy way to do it Send a secure e-mail via NRDC which has a sound, science-based comment you can customize.
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