Beluga whales can stay underwater up to the depth of 0.5 mile for 25 minutes. They're equipped with well-developed hearing, so the back and forth between whales in a group can get quite chatty. Beluga whales inhabit the cold waters of the northern Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and the Arctic Sea. The beluga is most closely related to the narwhal, the "unicorn" whale with a horn on its head. The population of beluga whales drops from time to time due to the extensive hunting and climate change. They can change the shape of the forehead by blowing the air through the sinuses in the head. Killer whales come around August. A dive normally lasts 3 to 5 min, but can last up to 18 min. They don't seem bothered by changes of salinity, which enables them to move from the salty ocean water to freshwater rivers without issue. Beluga whales have the bulbous forehead. The weight can reach 12 pounds. Since beluga whales live in a very cold environment, they have thick skin and thick layer of blubber. Beluga whales echolocate by producing high frequency clicks that pass through the melon, then receiving and interpreting the resulting echo. Polar bears will attack belugas in the same way they would attack a seal, which entails lying in wait at breathing holes. Just like other mammals, the skin of beluga whales is covered with hair. Behind-the-Scenes Virtual Expedition: White Sharks and Whales!
They live mainly in the high latitudes around Canada, Greenland, Russia, and Alaska in the U.S. Belugas are sometimes spotted around northern Europe. Kingdom - Animalia (animals)Phylum - Chordata (organisms with a dorsal nerve cord)Class – Mammalia (mammals)Order – Cetacea (whales, dolphins, and porpoises)Suborder – Odontoceti (toothed whales)Family - Monodontidae (white whales)Genus – DelphinapterusSpecies – Delphinapterus leucas. The beluga whale has a melon-shaped structure on the top of its head that enables it to produce and direct sounds. A beluga whale in the wild has a lifespan of 30-50 years, although some scientists believe they can live as long as 70 years. Beluga whales are unique among whales for several unusual abilities. Belugas are amongst the most vocal cetaceans. Beluga whales are extremely social. Beluga whales are diverse eaters, with more than 100 prey species identified including salmon, capelin, herring, shrimp, Arctic cod, flounder, and even crab. If you are interested in these animal facts, don’t forget to check out our other animal facts! Facts about Beluga Whale Diet. They look like large dolphins, reaching 13 to 20 feet in length and 2000 to 3000 pounds of weight. Get facts about barnacles here. Females are slightly smaller.
The beluga’s popularity with visitors reflects its attractive color and its range of facial expressions. The appearance of beluga whales reminds you with the large dolphins. The beluga is one of the smallest whale species, reaching an average of 13 feet in length, but it can weigh over 3,000 pounds thanks to its thick layer of blubber. The weight is only 2,000 to 3,000 pounds. The other whale in this family is narwhale. The Beluga Whale uses its echolocate to hunt for food. Beluga whales were previously designated as "vulnerable," and they are still hunted for food and caught for captive display in some parts of their range. If you want to know the smallest whale on earth, you have to check Facts about Beluga Whales. Belugas also use their "melon" for echolocation, using sound to help them navigate in dark waters where visibility may be limited. Because their cervical vertebrae aren't fused together as in other whale species, belugas can move their heads in all directions – up and down and side to side. Males take longer to reach sexual maturity, at about 7 to 9 years of age. WDC is grateful to our guest bloggers and value their contributions to whale conservation. Beluga Whales are Slow Swimmers. Beluga whales are odontocetes, or toothed whales. Whales are mammals, and so the beluga calf relies on its mother to nurse for the first few years of its life. Below are 37 interesting facts about Beluga Whales. A female beluga whale reaches reproductive age between 4 and 7 years old, and can give birth to a calf about every two or three years. If you think that a beluga whale is a fish, you are wrong. These whales are common in the Arctic Ocean's coastal waters, though they are found in subarctic waters as well. Over 450 pilot whales have stranded in various locations along a stretch of coastline in... J35 and J57. Usually, male belugas are larger than the females and grow up to 11 to 15 feet in length and weigh 1500 kg. There are some interesting facts which are unknown to many people as they think belugas have the same traits and characteristics like the other whales. It can take up to eight years before they turn completely white. Whale hunting has been under international control since 1973. Males weigh between 1,100 and 1,600 kg (2,430 and 3,530 lb), occasionally up to 1,900 kg (4,190 lb) while females weigh between 700 and 1,200 kg (1,540 and 2,650 lb). The environmental change which includes the climate change, ocean pollution and oil spills also affect the number of the beluga whales. Here are our top ten facts on the wonderful beluga: Belugas and all whales are negatively affected by human activity, including increased development, shipping, oil and gas production and transport, indirect and direct adverse effects from commercial fishing gear and operations, pollution, and habitat destruction and alteration. The Beluga Whales average diet … (907 to 1,361 kilograms), according to National Geographic. Interesting facts about Norwegian Forest cats, Interesting facts about Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, Interesting facts about the Saint Lawrence River. The beluga will find a shallow body of water lined with gravel, and rub its skin against the rough stones to scrape the old layer off. They also have the unusual habit of shedding their outer layer of skin each summer. If you want to know the smallest whale on earth, you have to check Facts about Beluga Whales. Northern beluga habitat is more pristine but is undergoing rapid change and development. The beluga whale or white whale (Delphinapterus leucas) is one of the smallest species of whale. In 2009, a captive beluga whale rescued a distressed participant of a free diving competition by pushing her to the surface.