WHALES

1. Whales are mammals and breathe air like us. Some whales can stay underwater for as long

as 90 minutes.

2. The blue whale is the largest animal in the world.

3. To breathe, whales have a blowhole at the top of their heads. When they reach the surface, they take air in through this blowhole.

4. Whales can swim as fast as 30 miles per hour.

5. There are two types of whales, baleen whales and toothed whales. Baleen whales eat krill and

plankton. Krill are shrimp-like creatures which are very important in the ecosystem of oceans.

Toothed whales eat several kinds of fish, like tuna, cod and salmon, and some small mammals

like seals.

6. Some baleen whales sing. The blue whales and the humpback whales are well known for their

singing.

7. Whales do not sleep like we do. To rest, whales sleep only half brain so they remember to take air in, or they would drown.