TL: Whales A-Z (Greenpeace Australia) SO: Greenpeace Australia DT: 1994 Keywords: oceans marine mammals whales dolphins greenpeace reports australia gp / ------------------------ INTRODUCTIONHelen Carter INTRODUCTIONWHAT IS A WHALE?A whale is a mammal that belongs, with dolphins and porpoises, to the order of mammals known as cetaceans. Cetaceans are divided by scientists into two sub-orders: baleen whales (Mysticeti) and toothed whales (Odontoceti).So if you really want to scientifically answer the question what is a whale?, for example a humpback whale, your answer would look like this: ORDER: CETACEA (whales) SUBORDER: MYSTICETI (baleen whales) FAMILY: BALAENOPTERIDAE (rorqual whales) 6 species: Fin whale Blue whale Minke whale (aka Piked whale) Sei whale Brydes whale (aka Tropical whale) Humpback whaleIn more general terms, a whale is a mammal that decided to return to the sea millions of years ago, and became very successful in its watery environment. Because of its success, it grew larger and larger and began to adapt to a wide range of habitats - rivers, shallow seas and deep oceans.Whales and dolphins are among the best loved animals in the world, although we still dont know very much about them. From being hunted to near-extinction during the 19th and 20th centuries, they have become symbols of freedom, grace and gentle intelligence for the many people all over the world who have banded together to protect them.The harpoons of the whaling companies are not the only dangers that whales have to face, however. Pollution of the oceans from toxic waste, chemical run-off and plastic litter is also life threatening for marine animals, and many small whales die in fishing nets. The fight to save the whales is still going on.The information in this pack has been designed as a starting-point for further discovery about whales. It does not include everything that we are beginning to learn about these creatures, and scientists are still arguing about some of the details included here. There are mysteries surrounding whales use of songs and echolocation that are waiting to be unravelled, and species are continually being moved from one family to another as we discover more and more about their secret lives.Have Fun!A-Z OF WHALESContentsA Age, AnatomyB Baleen whales, Blubber, BreathingC Cetaceans, Commercial Whaling in AntarcticaD DolphinsE EcholocationF Flukes, fins and flippers, FoodG Gray whaleH HazardsI Intelligence, IWCJ JanusK KaskelotL Lumba-Lumba and other myths and legendsM Mammals that went back to the sea, MigrationN NarwhalO OrcaP Pods, Products from whalesQ Queer facts about whalesR River dolphinsS Songs, Strandings, SubsistenceT Toothed whalesU Unsung heroesV Varieties (families) of whalesW Whale-watchingX Xtinct!Y Young whalesZ Zeuglodon, Zooplankton [] A AGEHow do you tell the age of a whale?Look in its ear! Youll have to look hard though, because a whales ear is very small and is sometimes covered by a membrane. Wax forms in the ears of most mammals, including humans, and the wax in whales ears builds up over a lifetime. If you could study the plug of wax, it would have rings in it, and each ring indicates a year in the life of a whale - rather like the rings in a tree trunk can tell how old the tree is.In toothed whales, you can also look at the dentine of their teeth, which is produced in layers, just like the rings of a tree again.Estimating how long a whale or dolphin can live is quite difficult, but some studies conservatively suggest between 15 and 20 years for dolphins and 25 to 35 years for larger whales. The greatest age so far discovered for a toothed whale is 70 years, when a sperm whale was killed in the Pacific and its tooth rings were counted. For a baleen whale, 100 wax rings were counted on a fin whale.ANATOMYWhales and dolphins spend their entire lives in water and their skeletons are generally very much lighter than terrestrial animals of the same size. Bone forms only 17 % of the total body weight of even the largest blue whales.A third of a whales total oil yield comes from its bones, which are specially constructed to help the animal float. They consist of a thin shell of compact outer material covering a spongy inner structure made up of delicate webs with large spaces between them, filled with fatty marrow.Many interesting differences are found in the skulls of various whales, especially the toothed whales- depending on their specialised use of sonar.[] BBALEEN WHALES (MYSTICETI)From the pygmy right whale (6.5 metres max) to the blue whale (31 metres max). These whales comb tiny organisms from the water with baleen - a series of stiff but flexible vertical plates with a fringed edge. The plates hang from the interior of the upper jaw in closely packed layers. When the whales tongue forces water out of its mouth, the baleen, which is made of the same substance that forms human fingernails and hair (keratin), efficiently strains out all the tiny animals (maybe hundreds of kilos at a time). There may be as many as 400 baleen plates on each side of the upper jaw, growing to as long as 4.5 metres.Baleen, under the name of whale bone, was once used in ladies corsets and dresses, as umbrella ribs, and buggy whips.Some baleen whales feed by skimming through surface swarms of organisms. Their gigantic heads occupy nearly one third of their total body length, their throat grooves swell to hold the water. Others are known as gulpers because they take quick bites as they lunge at their prey. The adult blue whale can hold an estimated 70 tonnes of food and water in its mouth - its enormous throat pouch is grooved, or pleated, to allow vast and rapid expansion. The gulpers are known as Rorqual whales.There are 10 species (11 if you divide right whales into northern and southern species) of baleen whales: Great Right Whale Bowhead Whale Pygmy Right Whale Gray Whale Fin Whale Blue Whale Piked Whale (Minke) * Sei Whale Tropical Whale (Brydes) * Humpback Whale * Not considered endangered or in need of protectionBLUBBERInstead of hair to keep themselves warm, whales have an insulating layer of fat tissue called blubber. Sea currents drain body heat much faster than land breezes, even in the tropics, and whales combat the cold with blubber. Adjustments in the circulatory systems (where the veins in flukes, fins and flippers are arranged close to arteries) also help to route warm blood back into the interior before it loses too much heat to the sea. Bulk also conserves heat.The Bowhead whale, living in the Arctic, has a blubber coat nearly three quarters of a metre thick. Adult Sperm Whales, which stay mainly in tropical and temperate waters, have a third of a metre of blubber under thick corrugated skins.Blubber has other functions, such as energy storage and buoyancy regulation, and may help to cut down water turbulence as the whale swims along.Whale blubber became a valuable commodity and is what built the huge whaling industry of the 19th and 20th Centuries. It melts to various grades of oil when heated in rendering vats.BREATHINGCetaceans actually take very little air into their lungs on a dive, allowing the pressure to compress their lungs and force that air into their windpipes and extensive nasal passages.Because whales are able to store twice as much oxygen in their muscles as we can, they have normal muscle function on a dive for a longer period. It seems probable that they can also reduce their heart rate and restrict blood flow, which helps to reduce oxygen need and help prevent chilling.Whales cannot breathe through their mouths - they have blowholes.The blow of a whale is a cloud of vapor produced largely by condensation when warm breath comes into contact with cooler air. The height of blow depends on the size of the animal, but its shape is significantly different among species, which helps people identify what type of whale they are looking at.Some whales have double blowholes which form a double or V shaped spout, while others have single spouts which form particular shapes or are projected in particular directions.Exhalation and inhalation (see p3 of Activities) lasts about 2 seconds, which is half the time that humans take. Human lungs form 7 % of body weight, compared to 3 % for cetaceans, and yet whales can hold their breath for up to 20 times as long as any terrestrial animal. Sperm whales are known to dive for 90 minutes or more at depths of up to 3,000 metres.Gray Whales have a maximum known dive of about 12 minutes. Bottlenose dolphins can hold their breath for 6 or 7 minutes.[] CCETACEANSWhales, dolphins and porpoises all belong to the order of mammals known as cetaceans, in the same way that apes (including humans), monkeys and lemurs all belong to the order of mammals called primates.Cetacean species are grouped scientifically into suborders: the Mysticeti, or baleen whales, and the Odontoceti, or toothed whales.Some species are limited to warm waters, while others migrate from polar regions to the tropics to breed. A number of toothed whales only occur in the southern hemisphere, such as longfin pilot whales, and the Equator serves as a biological barrier between north and south ocean species. The rhythm of the seasons makes it unlikely that any animals who share equatorial waters will be there at the same time from their respective hemisphere.Sperm Whales regularly travel great distances, following squid for food. Other whales, such as the Humpback and Blue, can migrate distances as far as Antarctica to Townsville. COMMERCIAL WHALING IN ANTARCTICA and other facts...1904-5: An Argentinian company establishes the first Antarctic Whaling station, at Grytviken on South Georgia, on 16th Nov. 19041905-6: Norwegians use the first floating whaling factory in the southern regions. A reported 707 whales are killed this season.1908: British establish a whaling station on Falkland/Malvinas Islands. Chilean and American ships are already operating in the area. During the 1908-9 season a reported 2,440 whales are killed.1910-20: A total of 80,483 whales are reported killed in the Antarctic region. In 1914 just over 40 % of the world whale catch is from Antarctica.1920-30: A total of 134,307 whales are reported killed in the Antarctic region. In 1925 just over 45 % of the world catch comes from Antarctica.1925-26: The first hauling-up slipway is installed on the Norwegian ship Lancing during this season, inaugurating pelagic (high seas) whaling in the Antarctic. By the next season 14 pelagic whaling factory ships operate in the Southern Ocean.1930-40: A total of 314,851 whales are reported killed in the Antarctic region. In 1931 just over 93 % of the world whale catch comes from Antarctica.1931: International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling is signed in September at Geneva by 26 Nations. This first experiment fails to provide a satisfactory control mechanism.1932: The Association of Whaling Companies sets catch limits using a new quota system based on the oil yield (110 barrels) from a blue whale. In this calculation, one blue whale equals six Sei whales. This so-called Blue Whale Unit is used for the next four decades as a basis for regulation and encourages the successive depletion of the most valuable whales.1934-5: The Japanese company Toyo Gyogyo purchases a Norwegian factory ship and three catcher boats, hires seven Norwegians and begins Antarctic whaling.1937: An International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling is negotiated in London, but is valid for only one whaling season.1938: The Convention establishes a Sanctuary from 70-160 degrees west in the Pacific Ocean, where pelagic whaling is prohibited, in an attempt to safeguard a reserve supply of whales (the sanctuary re-opened to whaling in 1955).1940-50: A total of 156,607 whales are reported killed in the Antarctic region. This significant decrease compared to the 1930-40 catch, can be attributed to the Second World War, when most ships were engaged in battle. The oceans of the world were dangerous places for ships to be at this time.1946: The International Convention for Regulation of Whaling is signed by 14 countries and establishes the International Whaling Commission (IWC),which, from 1949, meets annually.1949: At the first meeting of the IWC a quota of 16,000 Blue Whale Units is set for Antarctica.1950-60: A total of 325,432 whales are reported killed in Antarctica.1954: A scientific sub-committee of the IWC recommends a ban on taking blues and humpbacks in Antarctic waters between 0-70 degrees. IWC decides not to restrict hunting of blue whales.1960-70: A total of 255,830 whales are reported killed in the Antarctic region.1960-2: Whaling is completely unregulated because the IWC is unable to set quotas in the Antarctic region. These two seasons mark the beginning of the decline of Antarctic whaling.1962: IWC scientists recommend abandoning the Blue Whale Unit (BWU) and replacing it by individual species quotas. It takes a further decade before the BWU is finally abolished.1962: Whaling on Norfolk Island (Australia) ceases due to hunters being unable to find any whales.1965-6: Almost 90 % of the whales killed in the Antarctic this season are Sei whales. Total protection is given to Blue Whales.1970-80: A total of 113,963 whales are reported killed in the Antarctic region.1972: United Nations proposal to declare a moratorium on commercial whaling defeated by whaling countries, including Australia.1975: Greenpeace Save The Whale campaign starts.1979: Indian Ocean Sanctuary established1979: Last coastal whaling station in Australia (Albany, WA) closes, following actions by Greenpeace and the Whale and Dolphin Coalition.1980-90: A total of 41,676 Minke whales are reported killed in the Antarctic region.1985-7: Japan and the USSR report total of 4,969 Minke whales killed per season.1986: Moratorium on commercial whaling (finally comes into force in 1989).1988-93: Japan catches a reported 1,789 Minke whales, during five scientific whaling voyages.1989: Norway objects to commercial moratorium. (Norway continues to hunt commercially).1994: The IWC votes to establish the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary, around Antarctica, which bans commercial whaling in this area. 1995: Japan continues scientific whaling in the Southern Ocean whale Sanctuary. Greenpeace ship the MV Greenpeace captures the slaughter in graphic photos, published around the world. [] DDOLPHINSDolphins belong to the toothed whales (odontoceti) , and there are four separate families of porpoises and dolphins:DELPHINIDAE ...................... Ocean Dolphins STENIDAE ........................... Coastal Dolphins PLATANISTIDAE ................ River Dolphins PHOCOENIDAE .................... PorpoisesDolphins live in schools, or pods, which can number anything from two to thousands, but most pods seem to be between 20 and 100 individuals. They often synchronise their breathing and diving, and 100 dolphins all leaping out of the water together is a spectacular sight.They form very close bonds, helping each other and communicating continually with groans, clicks and whistles.They mostly eat fish, such as mackerel, anchovies and cod, but they will also eat squid and shrimps when they get the opportunity. Group hunting is common, and it is an effective way of catching the food they need. Most dolphins need to eat at least 9 kg of fish everyday.Most dolphins have a dorsal fin (the fin on the top of the whales body), but no one is sure why they need one. Some species dont have one at all - for example the Finless porpoise and Right Whale dolphin - so a dorsal fin is obviously not essential for swimming skills or general survival. It is one of the many things we still dont know about dolphins, and have to guess at.[] EECHOLOCATIONSea water transmits sound waves more efficiently than air. Coastal waters are often murky from river discharges or pollution, and rays of light cannot penetrate beyond around 500 metres in the open ocean, so although toothed whales usually have excellent sight they also use echolocation to find their food.They bounce pulse waves of sound off objects, and read the echo. People who have listened to whales report hearing sounds that remind them of bird calls, mooing, deep sighing, teeth-gnashing, the shaking of a tin tray, and musical glasses being played badly.Baleen whales do not seem to echolocate - they seem to use sound to communicate with one another, even over thousands of miles. (See Songs)Echolocation relies on an intense beam of clicks over high frequencies that bounce back from objects, enabling the whales to form an acoustical picture of their surroundings. Radar and sonar employ the same principles for humans.Blind folded, captive bottlenose dolphins in the late 1950s were able to detect a 10 % difference in the diameter of metallic spheres; various shapes and thickness of objects; a 5mm variation in wall thickness of cylinders; and to discriminate between aluminium, bronze and steel cylinders of equal dimensions. One dolphin found a apple-sized object 300 metres away, using extremely intense bursts of clicks.Dolphins have hearing so acute, that it acts like passive sonar. Without using any clicks, they can track and catch prey by listening for its sounds. In an ocean filled with noises - both physical and biological - researchers now believe that both active and passive sonar activities combine to form the type of echolocation toothed whales possess.Sonic boom testing used for oil exploration may have severely negative impacts on whales and dolphins because of their dependence on hearing. Some oil companies have tested using the sonic boom method in whale breeding grounds off the coasts of Warrnambool, (Victoria) and Perth (WA).Most researchers believe that the sounds are produced by recycling air in nasal passages below the blowhole and focussed into a beam in the oil-filled melon or forehead. The echoes bounce back and are channeled by oil-filled passages in the lower jaw to the inner ear.Some scientists theorise that toothed whales can produce sound waves intense enough to immobilise, even kill, prey within a certain distance: a stun gun. This uses long, low-frequency pulses 5 times stronger than echolocation clicks.[] FFLUKES, FINS AND FLIPPERSFlukesCetacean tails are called flukes, and are frequently so distinctive that they can aid recognition of species even from blurry photographs.The two flukes of the whales tail are flat and horizontal, and contain tendons and fibrous tissue which keep them rigid but flexible. They are used as powerful paddles in an up-and-down motion driven by the muscles of the lower body.They are so strong that one lash from them could smash a small boat, and they propel the whale at speeds which can reach 18 knots (about 33km) an hour, or more if the whale is frightened.The fin whale can maintain a speed of 20 knots for 15 minutes or more, and the dolphin can go even faster - up to 25 knots.FinsNot all whales have fins, and we still do not understand why they have them. The largest fin, relative to body size, belongs to the killer whale (Orca).Fins are made of firm, fatty tissue, and do not contain any bones. They usually stand strongly, but if the animal is out of condition or under stress in captivity, the fin loses muscle tone and flops over.FlippersFlippers contain bones and are used for steering. They work like a human arm, but have been streamlined to work like paddles. Whales with long flippers, like the Humpback, have been observed holding their babies close to their sides in times of danger, the flipper draped protectively.Flippers can be rotated, which is useful when the whale needs to change direction, and they help in balancing and braking. FOODThe long sunny days of the southern summer (up to 23 hours of light a day) results in huge blooms of marine algae which nourish the animal plankton that most whales feed on - krill. There is evidence that the rise in Antarctic water temperatures due to global warming is adversely affecting krill stocks, which in turn means less food for the animals that survive by eating krill.1000 kg of phytoplankton produce 100 kg of zooplankton, which becomes 10 kg of whale food. Each hectare of southern ocean produces about 1,200 kg of animal protein a year (more than twice as productive as the best pasture land ) and in those summer months many of the great whales stock up on enough food to travel and breed right through the winter without having to eat again.Baleen whales feed almost exclusively on plankton, filtering the tiny creatures through their plates of baleen. Fin whales eat both krill and fish such as herring, mackerel and capelin.Toothed whales include fish, squid and flesh in their diets, although the only consistent flesh-eater is the killer whale who will eat seals, sea lions, porpoises and dolphins.Most cetaceans swallow their food whole, and those that have teeth only use them to seize their prey.[] GGRAY WHALE (The American spelling is now accepted internationally)The Gray Whale is one of the baleen whales, but it is in a separate family all on its own. Scientists have separated it because it is very different from either of the two other families of baleens.The average length for males is about 12.2m, and for females 12.8m. Calves at birth are 4.5m.Gray Whales like to feed at the bottom of shallow seas, raking up the mud with their heads and filtering small organisms through their baleen plates. Adults can eat around 1 tonne of food a day.If you want to see a Gray Whale, you will have to go to the North Pacific, because they are now extinct in the North Atlantic Ocean. Normally, they stay in small groups of one to three, but when they are migrating from Alaska to Mexico you might be able to see larger groups of 16 or more.Scientists recognize two separate populations of Gray Whales: the eastern stock, which moves from Alaska down the eastern edge of the North Pacific to Mexico, and the western stock, which migrates from the Okhotsk Sea in Siberia to Korea.Unfortunately, there are only approximately 100 left of the western stock, but the eastern stock numbers are much larger. Past whaling activities nearly wiped them out completely, and they have been internationally protected since 1946.[] HHAZARDSThe Ozone LayerThe hole in the ozone layer is letting in more ultra-violet radiation than is good for the planet. Humans are being affected by this, and we are all learning to SLIP-SLOP-SLAP in order to avoid getting skin cancer.The plants and animals on the planet are also being affected by all the extra UV rays, and the whales living in the oceans are not able to escape the harmful effects.More UV radiation means less plankton, because this vital food for baleen whales, and many other members of the ocean food chain, is dying from the burning rays.Climate ChangeWater temperature changes the amount of food in the ocean, and the places where food can be found. The Greenhouse Effect will mean warmer oceans, and the ocean food chains will have to adapt. Some whale species may have to adapt ....... or die. (Also see Food)Hunting and FishingThere are indigenous communities, like the Inuit people of Greenland, northern Canada, Alaska and the northern edges of Russia, who use traditional methods of hunting beluga and narwhal species in order to survive. (Also see Subsistence Whaling)There are, however, people in the world who kill whales for profit. Despite 40 years of management by the IWC, commercial whalers have brought 8 out of the 10 great whale species to the brink of extinction.Human fishing practices also kill whales, because they get caught in huge nets and drown. Tuna fishing accounts for hundreds of thousands of dolphin deaths every year, and even discarded nets floating about in the ocean are harmful, and sometimes fatal, to whales. Over-fishing the oceans means less food to go around, for both whales and humans. A bright future for our planet means looking after all forms of life - including fish, whales and humans.PollutionThere are many different kinds of pollution that are turning the rivers, shallow seas and deep oceans into rubbish tips and poisonous pits. Some pollution problems are industrial and some are domestic. We can all work together to solve these problems, by changing our own habits at home and by encouraging industry towards clean production.The recent dramatic increase in strandings of Sperm whales on coasts of the North Sea may have been directly related to toxic overload. Samples from the blood, liver and blubber from these whales showed extremely high levels of toxic substances. These toxins, amongst other things, damage whales immune system, leaving them susceptible to disease. (See Strandings). There is no such place as away, so when we throw things away they have to go somewhere - usually into the ocean. Here are just some of the things we throw away that cause horrible deaths to whales and other ocean animals:PLASTIC LITTER eg. plastic supermarket bags DUMPED CHEMICALS eg. organochlorines RADIOACTIVE WASTE eg. discharged from nuclear power stations HEAVY METALS eg. from factory outlets OIL SPILLS eg. tanker accidentsHabitat DestructionLike all marine species, dolphins depend upon a healthy environment to thrive. Degradation of this environment from environmentally destructive coastal developments is having an adverse effect on coastal dolphin populations world wide. One example of this is the Irrawaddy dolphin which is at risk from environmentally destructive developments, and other causes of habitat destruction in areas such as North Queensland, South East Asia and the Bay of Bengal. Captivity - Loved to DeathLarge numbers of cetaceans, especially killer whales and oceanic dolphins, are being captured and put on display to the public. Some of them are even taught to perform tricks as an entertainment.The more we learn about whales, the more we realise that this form of human love and admiration causes great distress and, usually, an early death for these animals. A whales home is in the wide open spaces of the oceans.[] IINTELLIGENCEHuman intelligence has evolved through the use of hands and eyes in manipulating tools and our environment. Cetaceans cannot be measured on the same scale because they dont have any hands and their eyesight is not their best feature! Instead, they have evolved a complex acoustic response to their environment - the sea - and their brains have developed in size and complexity to be very much like our own.We cannot use human measures of ability when we are deciding how intelligent the different species of whales may be. Humans have developed best in areas which allow them to use their hands and eyes, and our greatest achievements have been in writing wonderful books, painting magnificent pictures, constructing marvellous buildings and machinery and so on.Dolphins have developed remarkable skills in orientation, social behaviour, emotional self-control and even humour! Researchers have been amazed at the things they are able to do, and the fast learning they are capable of. When a human scale is not used, studies have supported the idea that dolphins, at least, have complex mental functions (what we call thinking!).Some scientists believe that computers may help to bridge the communication barrier between dolphins and humans (see Janus). Until then, we may never know for certain who is smarter!INTERNATIONAL WHALING COMMISSION (IWC)1946: the IWC was established to rebuild the whaling industry after the 2nd World War. In the beginning it was a Whalers club, with all the whaling countries getting together to make as much money as possible. Change has come very slowly to the IWC , and mostly through public opinion.1965: declared Blue whales and Humpback whales protected. (Some countries ` did not feel themselves bound by IWC rules and continued to hunt them).1971 - 1973: a 10 year moratorium on the commercial killing of whales was proposed each year, but was defeated each time.1974: The Australian amendment was proposed, based on the maximum sustainable yield of the populations of whales. Whaling countries still wanted to be able to kill whales, but they were under pressure from public opinion not to wipe them out completely.One of the delegates in 1974 was so disgusted at the meeting that he said:This commission will be known to history as a small body of men who failed to act responsibly, in terms of a very large commitment to the world, and who protected the interests of a few whalers and not the future of thousands of whales.1986: The moratorium on commercial whaling was finally voted on, but did not begin until 1989. There was a loophole though, where SCIENTIFIC WHALING could continue. Some countries have used this loophole to carry on killing whales for commercial purposes.1994: The French governments proposal for a Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary around Antarctica was finally passed at the IWC meeting - by 23 votes to one.The IWC meets every year in a different country, and Australia sends delegates and observers from organisations like Greenpeace, to the meetings. As citizens of Australia, we all have a right to voice our opinions about whales, by getting in touch with our delegate. [] JJANUSThis stands for : Joint Analog Numerical Understanding System and is a project started by John Lilly, who has been active in communication technology and experimentation between humans and cetaceans since 1959.Between 1959 and 1968, Lillys work at the Communication Research Institute in the Virgin Islands demonstrated that dolphins could produce sounds in air which seemed to imitate human speech patterns. The Institute closed in 1968, and Lilly said he no longer wanted to run a concentration camp for my friends, but he believes that humans and dolphins have the capacity to communicate with each other.Since 1978 his group has been working with new computer techniques, called JANUS, that could break the communication barrier between humans and cetaceans.If you are interested in this topic you can write to :The Human/Dolphin Foundation 11930 Oceanaire Rd Malibu CALIFORNIA USA 90265 [] KKASKELOT or Catchelot Kaskelot (or Catchelot, more common spelling) is one of the names given to the Great Sperm Whale. It has many names in many languages because it is found all over the world and has been hunted for centuries.The Great Sperm Whale is a toothed whale that grows to an average of 15 metres for males, and 11 metres for females. Some are considerably larger than this average, and 20 metre males and 17 metre females have been measured.It is instantly recognisable in pictures because of its enormous head and small bottom jaw. The head is filled with spermaceti, which is a clear liquid probably used for echolocation and buoyancy. Spermaceti sets into a solid white wax when it is cooled and was much in demand during the 19th century to make high quality candles before electric lights were available.Sperm whales like to eat up to 1 tonne per day of squid, including the Giant Squid which can be as long as 45 metres! They dive to great depths and can hold their breath for very long periods. Because of their squid diet, they produce a substance in their intestines called ambergris which, like spermaceti, was prized by 19th century whalers because of the price it could be sold for. Ambergris was used in expensive perfume and as a medical drug.It is difficult to determine how many Sperm Whales are left in the oceans, as they were hunted to near-extinction in the past.[] LLUMBA - LUMBA (AND OTHER MYTHS)The spinning dolphin is known as lumba - lumba in Indonesia, and is believed to be the reincarnation of a beautiful dancer and sorceress called Tia.Other myths which include dolphins and whales show how old the interaction is between them and humans. In ancient Mediterranean society, dolphins were symbols of the liberation of the soul from the body, and accompanied the spirit into the next world.Apollo Delphinus, with his son Acadius, was carried by a dolphin to the navel of the earth, where he built the temple of Delphi. Phalonthos, a son of Poseidon, was rescued from the sea on a dolphins back.Jonah and the whale is a famous story in the Bible (Jonah Chpt. 1-4). Jonah found himself on a ship during a terrible storm, and was thrown overboard by the sailors who thought he had brought them bad luck. He was swallowed by a big fish (most people assume it was a whale), and stayed inside it for 3 days.While he was inside the whale, he prayed to God and eventually he was spewed up on to dry land. He was able to continue his journey to Ninevah. [] MMAMMALS THAT WENT BACK TO THE SEAMammals, like humans, are warm blooded, give birth to live young and suckle their young, and breathe air.Icthyosaurs were natures first attempt at dolphins and whales over 180 million years ago when, as reptiles, they went back into the sea. Their shape was like dolphins, but they lacked the brains and social habits. The Icthyosaur, all savage teeth and tiny cranium, was a dolphins nightmare of itself!60 million years ago, some mammals began to return to the sea, and by 50 million years ago, the first whales, the archaeoceti, were swimming through the seas, looking more like sea-serpents than whales, although they were almost as long as modern whales - 15 -21m, and about 5,000 kg. One fossil was found in Alabama of a type of archaeoceti - the Zeuglodon.Squalodonts, a family of primitive dolphins, were also successful in their new home. By 15 million years ago, they had evolved features very like modern dolphins.The baleen whales are descended from a primitive hoofed mammal that went back to the sea 60 million years ago. The toothed whale are descended from another hoofed animal that went back to the sea at approximately the same time.Life in the oceans for whales has, until this century, been harmonious and mostly unthreatening. Unlike their previous life on land, whales found life in the oceans free from predators and there was no shortage of food. They have been able to evolve in this environment, developing communication skills, social hierarchy and relations and some say a truly intelligent, spiritual existence.Oldest living whale species:MysticetiThe Gray Whale is the least specialised, and gives us the best idea of what the first baleen whales must have been like.OdontocetiOn anatomical grounds, the most primitive families are Beaked whales (Ziphiidae) and freshwater dolphins (Platanistidae). MIGRATIONAs autumn ends and the waters start to freeze over in both the northern and the southern hemispheres, Fin whales and Blue whales swim from polar feeding grounds towards the Equator where they mate and give birth. Their migration routes remain a secret.North Pacific humpbacks make the winter journey from Alaska to Hawaii for mating; North Atlantic humpbacks go from Greenland and Iceland to the Caribbean.For 6 months of migration and mating, whales mainly live off the energy stored in their blubber and do not feed again until they return to their polar regions.The Gray whale spends summer and autumn in Arctic waters, then cruises up to 6,000-7,000 km south to winter in California. Gray whales probably eat at this time, unlike the rorquals. [] NNARWHALNarwhals belong to the whale family monodontidae.Narwhals live in Arctic waters, in small groups of 6 to 10, and like to eat fish, squid and crustaceans.They are medium-sized whales, about 4.7m, and the males have an unusual tusk which grows out of the upper lip. This tusk can be as long as 2.5m and the narwhal is often called the Unicorn whale because of it.Scientists have come up with several theories about the strange-looking tusks, which weigh about 10 kg and are always worn smooth at the tip. Some people think that they are just part of being an attractive male narwhal.What do you think ?Narwhal and skull of a Narwhal [photo not in electronic edition][] OORCAAlso known as the killer whale, the Orca is the only true flesh-eater of all cetaceans. It belongs to the toothed whales, in the family known as Globicephalidae, and eats fish, penguins, seals and dolphins.They are very intelligent, and usually hunt in packs where their manoeuvres seem almost military in their precision and effectiveness. Growing up to around 10 metres, an adult male orca is a formidable sight, with a dorsal fin as tall an adult human, but there have never been any recorded attacks on humans, except for one scary experience for the photographer with Captain Scott in Antarctica..........[] PPODSMost whales live in groups, called pods, of various sizes, from two or three Gray whales to up to 100,000 oceanic dolphins. Porpoises and dolphins seem to form the largest groups, with a typical pod numbering between 20 and 100. They are all very sociable, and keep in touch with each other vocally even if they are not travelling and hunting together, so an animal that appears to be alone may be in touch with other group members that are out of sight but not out of hearing.They form strong family ties, and will help each other in times of distress and danger. In the old whaling days, whalers knew that if they managed to harpoon a sperm whale its distress calls would bring lots of other Sperm whales to its aid, and they would be able to kill many more.Baleen whales tend to form loose groups, coming together at certain times for migration and breeding. Toothed whales have a variety of social structures from the solitary Beaked whales to the enormous numbers of oceanic dolphins.A nuclear group consists of a male and female travelling together, while a nursery group may have a number of adult females and their young. There are also bachelor groups of adult and juvenile males in varied numbers.Sperm whales seem to have a matriarchal society, usually travelling in a pod of between 10 and 20 mothers with their young calves. Male Sperm whales join the groups in Autumn, and turn the nursery into a harem, with one dominant male in charge.When they are on the move, whales seem to adopt certain formations depending on what they are doing. The wedge-shaped navigating formation has skilled leaders that often move forward on their own until they decide that it is safe for the others to follow, while the parade formation consists of open squares, hollow circles or single files, and is used in familiar or clear water. Some hunting formations have also been observed, when members of a pod will co-operate with military precision in the capture of food. PRODUCTSWhales have been hunted for centuries, mainly for their oil and meat. In the 19th Century, when whaling became a huge industry, different parts of the whale were used to make all the products listed below, and more.fuel - fertiliser - lamp oil - tempering steel - candle wax - paint - machinery oil - skin cream - watch springs - stock-cubes - umbrellas - cattle fencing - toys - mah-jong counters - upholstery - medicines - corsets - gelatin - soap - glue - margarine - fish-bait - lipstick - cattle-meal - detergents - dog-food - cat-food - brushes, brooms - linoleum - anti-freeze - medical tissues - hair products - oil-cloth - steaks - sausage skins - pipes - tennis racquet strings - piano strings - drum-skins - jewellery - sword hilts, scabbards - cigarette holders - laces - shoe horns, polish - surgical stitches - car-wax - riding crops - fishing rods - chess pieces - ambergris - buttons - ivory carvings - tanning leather - artists pigments - wax crayons - engineering coolants - golf bags - varnishes - parchment - printing inks - insecticide[] QQUEER FACTS ABOUT WHALESThe adult male Strap-toothed whale has boar-like tusks on each side of his lower jaw that may become a foot long and wrap around the upper jaw. They can restrict the whale from opening his mouth, and he has to suck up squid in order to survive. Blainvilles Beaked whale has a thick, stair-stepped lower jaw with a single tooth growing out of the middle on both sides. Orcas have been timed reaching speeds of 38 km/h, Bridled dolphins at 43 km/h and Shortfin pilot whales at 49 km/h. The fastest cetaceans are perhaps even in excess of 56 km/h. A Fin whale exchanges 3,000 times a humans volume of air in less than 2 seconds, half the time we take. All the spent air is exhaled under enormous pressure from the diaphragm and chest muscles in a blow which lasts little more than 1/2 a second. The next inhalation follows immediately, lasting about 1 second. Studies have shown that the dolphins brain is as advanced as the human brain on a microscopic structural basis. A Southern Right whale calf can drink up to 600 litres of milk per day. A dolphin in a large tank can hear a teaspoonful of water being poured into the tank anywhere, and still turn and fix that spot precisely. A sperm whales stomach was cut open, and was found to contain 28,000 tiny squid. Some other sperm whale stomachs have had boots, wire, buckets, plastic bags and sand inside them. The Blue Whale Unit (BWU) indicated how much oil could be harvested from each whale. 1 Blue Whale = 2 Fin Whales, or 2.5 Humpback whales or 6 Sei Whales [] RRIVER DOLPHINSRiver Dolphins belong to the toothed whales, in a family known as plantanistidae. There are 5 species in this family:Ganges River Dolphin (Soosa) Indus River Dolphin Yangtze River Dolphin Amazon River Dolphin (Boto) La Plata River Dolphin All of these dolphins are small, with long slender beaks and bulging foreheads. Their flippers are broad and have visible fingers under the skin.Their habitat is confined to the rivers that form their names, and the muddy waters have resulted in very poor, or non-existent, eyesight. Their sonar system, on the other hand, is very elaborate.All of the river dolphins are threatened by the destruction of their habitats, through human development. They are also caught accidentally in fishing nets, and some are hunted for their oil and meat.The Yangtze River Dolphin has been protected by law since 1975, and the Chinese fisherfolk who use the river believe that bad luck comes to anyone who interferes with the dolphins.The boto, or Amazon River Dolphin, has been protected by local tradition in the past, but it is now becoming exploited for its oil and meat, and for sale to exhibitions in the U.S. [] SSONGSToothed whales whistle and click, but they do not sing. Baleen whales make sounds at very low frequencies which have been described as moans, rumbles and chirps, but they are often very harmonic and are known as songs.The baleen whale best known for its songs is the male Humpback. He repeats sequences of great variety in themes, or verses, often for many hours at a time. Each song can be identified with an individual singer, a geographical area, and the year in which it was sung.Roger and Katherine Payne conducted one of the first at sea studies to tape humpback whale songs, and their recordings showed the complex patterns contained in each song. Experiments with taped whale sounds have shown some interesting qualities such as when they are speeded up they sound very like bird songs! There are many recordings available of whale songs, like Songs of the Humpback Whale and Deep Voices, distributed by EMI. STRANDINGSToothed whales seem more prone to strand en masse than baleen whales. Long-finned and short-finned pilot whales, and the false killer whale, are most known for this behaviour. They may beach themselves in groups ranging from a half-dozen to hundreds.835 false killer whales were stranded on the beaches around Mar Del Plata, Argentina, in 1946, and pilot whale herds of up to 200 animals have beached on the shores of Newfoundland.What causes mass strandings is still a mystery.It has been suggested that the whales follow prey, or are chased by predators like sharks and Orcas, into shallow water where their echolocation is misdirected. Parasites in the whales middle ears have been blamed, as has the tendency of herds to follow their leaders, but there is no real evidence for any of these reasons.Some research now suggests that strandings may represent an attempt by an individual whale to rest from swimming and try to recuperate from illness. The rest of its family group may follow in order to support and comfort it.How to help stranded whales:If you see a stranded whale you should first of all contact the police or the Department of Wildlife, and wait for professional help or advice. In the meantime, stranded whales should be kept cool and wet. Their blowholes should be kept clear.SUBSISTENCE WHALINGSome traditional cultures such as the Inuit indians from Alaska, need whales for food, clothing and fuels. They have depended upon whales and other marine animals for centuries, and their frozen environment prevents the farming of animals or vegetables for food. In remote areas of the far northern hemisphere, there are no supermarkets, McDonalds, corner shops or even trees or grass! - all the things we take for granted.Every year, the IWC sets quotas on the numbers of whales that can be caught by traditional communities that still depend on them to survive. This catch, is strictly regulated by the IWC and quotas are only set on species not on the endangered list. The total global subsistence catch is approximately 500 per year.Greenpeace does not oppose appropriately regulated indigenous subsistence whaling.[] TTOOTHED WHALES (Odontoceti)This branch of the whale family tree has generally smaller whales than the baleens, but they are more numerous because dolphins and porpoises are included.There are approximately 66 toothed species, from 18m male sperm whale to the 1.5m La Plata River dolphin.They hunt very fast prey, such as squid, and often use co-operative hunting methods which run as smoothly as a military operation. Some whales eat only squid, but most of them eat a mixture of whatever food is available in their area.Where the baleen whales are known for their low-frequency songs, toothed whales use the clicks and whistles of echolocation to fill the oceans with sound.There are 8 families of toothed whales, although scientists are still not completely satisfied about all the classifications. Six of these eight families have world-wide distributions, while the River Dolphins have very specialised areas and there are two Arctic species which occur nowhere else.[] UUNSUNG HEROESThere are many, many stories of whales, and especially dolphins, saving humans from drowning or being chased by sharks. Some of the earliest stories have been shown on ancient Greek tombs, and it seems that humans and dolphins have always interacted - although it is usually the dolphin doing the saving!Some scientists believe that saving humans in trouble is an extension of dolphin group behaviour. All whales respond to the distress cries of other members of their pod, and will protect and care for an individual that is being attacked, or is ill or having trouble breathing. Strandings may happen because of this, and whalers in the past used this friend-in-need behaviour to kill more whales.Whatever the reason behind it, there are many humans who have reason to be grateful to dolphin saviours.Dolphins have also been used as part of treatment for mentally ill and depressed people, with some amazing results. [] VVARIETIES (FAMILIES) OF WHALESOdontoceti Physeteridae 3 speciesZiphiidae 18 speciesPlatanistidae 5 speciesMonodontidae 2 speciesStenidae 4 speciesPhocoenidae 6 speciesGlobicephalidae 6 speciesDelphinidae 22 speciesArchaeoceti PrehistoricMysticeti Eschrichtidae 1 SpeciesBalaenopteridae 6 SpeciesBalaenidae 3 SpeciesWhale shapes and sizesFamilies1. PhyseteridaeSperm whale Pygmy sperm whale Dwarf sperm whaleThe Sperm whale is the largest of all toothed whales, with an enormous head roughly 1/3 of its total body length. Its smaller relatives also contain spermaceti in a swollen nose but other than that they are very different from each other. Sperm whale populations have been devastated by the whaling industry, although they are now supposed to be protected.2. Ziphiidae (Beaked and bottlenose whales)Tasmanian whale Northern Fourtooth whale Southern Fourtooth whale Goosebeak whale ( Cuviers) Northern Bottlenose whale Southern Bottlenose whale Indo-pacific Beaked whale (Longmans) Skew Beaked whale (Hectors) Wonderful Beaked whale (Trues) Gulf Stream Beaked whale (Gervaiss) Arch Beaked whale Japanese Beaked whale (Ginko-toothed) Scamperdown Beaked whale (Grays) Bering Sea Beaked whale (Andrews) Dense Beaked whale North Sea Beaked whale Straptooth Beaked whale Splaytooth BeakedRare:Tasmanian whale, Northern Bottlenose, Southern Bottlenose, Indo-pacific Beaked , Arch Beaked, Japanese Beaked, Bering Sea Beaked.Uncommon:Southern FourtoothLimited information:Splaytooth Beaked , Skew Beak, Dense Beak. 3. Platanistidae (River Dolphins)Ganges River Dolphin Indus River Dolphin Yangtze River Dolphin Amazon River Dolphin La Plata River DolphinThese river dolphins are all small and have long slender beaks. Their eyesight is poor, or non-existant, but they compensate for this with refined sonar systems. The Ganges and Indus river dolphins are severely threatened by loss of habitat through irrigation schemes. The La Plata river dolphin is being caught by fishermen in large numbers. The Yangtze and Amazon river dolphins have been protected by local customs, but their numbers are now declining because of over development.4. MonodontidaeUnicorn whale (narwhal) White whale (beluga)Both these medium-sized whales are arctic animals, and are heavily hunted.5. StenidaeRoughtooth dolphin Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin Atlantic Humpback dolphin Estuarine dolphinThese are the coastal dolphins, and were once considered rare, but only the estuarine dolphin seems to be declining in numbers.6. Phocoenidae (Porpoise)Common porpoise Black porpoise (Burmeisters) Spectacled porpoise Gulf porpoise Finless porpoise Spray porpoise (Dalls)The Gulf porpoise is rare and its habitat is threatened by human activity, but the other species of porpoise, although not seen very often, may be more common than we think.7. Globicephalidae (pilot and killer whales)Longfin pilot whale Shortfin pilot whale Killer whale (orca) False killer whale Melonhead whale 8. DelphinidaeThese are the classic dolphins, with beak-like snouts and slender streamlined bodies, and are still fairly abundant around the globe (with exceptions). They are also most likely to get caught in fishing nets.Members of this family of toothed whales (odontoceti) include:White beak dolphin Atlantic Whiteside dolphin Pacific Whiteside dolphin Dusky dolphin Hourglass dolphin Blackchin dolphin (Peales) Shortsnout dolphin (Frasers) Southern right whale dolphin Northern right whale dolphin Piebald dolphin (Commersons) Chilean dolphin (black) Benguela dolphin (Hearisides) New Zealand dolphin (Hectors) Grey dolphin (Rissos) Snubfin dolphin (Irrawaddy) Spinner dolphin Helmet dolphin Striped dolphin Bridled dolphin Spotted dolphin Common dolphin Bottlenose dolphinRelatively rare:Helmet, Benguela, Chilean9. EschrichtidaeGray WhaleThere is only one member of this family, now restricted to the North Pacific (see Gray Whale). It is considered to be intermediate between the other 2 families of baleen whale, and has stayed in a separate category.10. BalaenopteridaeFin whale Blue whale Minke whale (Piked) Sei whale Tropical whale (Brydes) Humpback whaleThese are all known as Rorqual whales, with soft, fleshy tongues and throat grooves. They gulp their food by taking huge bites of ocean into their throats and filtering it through their baleen plates.11. BalaenidaeGreat Right whale Bowhead whale Pygmy Right whaleThese whales have no throat grooves, and skim for their food. Their heads are enormous, and they have the most elaborate baleen plates. [] WWHALE WATCHINGSouth AustraliaIn South Australias Encounter Bay (about 60 km south of Adelaide) you can see Southern Right Whales cruising the coast between May and October. They breed and mate here, and use areas off the Bight as nurseries. There are occasional sightings of Humpback, Sperm, Killer, Pilot, False Killer and Beaked whales.New South WhalesHumpbacks are seen around Coffs Harbour, NSW from June and in Eden up to the beginning of December. There are also occasional sightings of Southern Right, Blue, Minke, Brydes, Killer and Sperm whales.QueenslandHervey Bay, in Qld, is a major site for viewing for humpbacks on their way south, and the Whitsundays is a calving ground for them. Humpbacks can be seen from August until late October here, and there are occasional sightings of Minke and Sperm whales.Western AustraliaIn Western Australia, Southern Right whales are seen regularly around Albany from August to November, and Humpback whales glide down the coast from July to November. Brydes, Sei and Minke whales are occasionally seen in Geraldton.VictoriaAround Warrnambool, Southern Right whales can be seen from May until August and rare glimpses of Humpback, Killer and Pilot whales are also seen. Dolphins often come into Port Phillip Bay.Whale watching is lots of fun, and can be done from headlands, cliffs and beaches, as well as on specially licensed boat tours. More and more people are being attracted to this amazing experience, and if well regulated, it can be enlightening for us and will not endanger or disturb the whales we are there to watch.If you want to go whale-watching, it is important to remember the environmental code:1. Look after the coastOnly watch whales in areas specially marked out by local rangers or in areas where you are not harming dune vegetation. Take all your rubbish away with you. Remember that local people live in the area, and that you may be trespassing on private property.2. Look after yourselfBe very careful on cliffs, as they can be dangerous. Keep well clear of surging waves if you are on the shoreline.3. Look after the whalesWhales may be alarmed if you make loud or unexpected noises when they are close to shore.Leave the whales alone if you are swimming, diving, boating or flying near them. There are rules about how close you may go to a whale or dolphin, if you are in a boat or plane - check with your local rangers. Whales are protected in Australian waters, so if you disturb them you might find yourself in trouble, as well as cause anxiety to the whales. [] XXTINCT !People have hunted whales for centuries, and some aboriginal or subsistence whaling is still conducted in some parts of the world. However the invention of the exploding harpoon in 1868 and the use of floating factory ships since 1905 meant that whales of all kinds could be systematically slaughtered in their millions.Modern whaling methods brought 8 of the 10 great whale species to the brink of extinction, and it is only the force of public opinion which has placed a ban on the killing of these species. This international protection of some species, and the creation of several whale sanctuaries around the world, especially the newly created Southern Ocean Sanctuary, will help the whales to recover their numbers, but these two measures might still not be enough to save them.Blue whales of the southern oceans, the largest living animal on earth, currently number 450. Unfortunately their low numbers may not be enough to guarantee their survival. It will be many decades before the Blue whales are off the endangered species list.All creatures, including whales, are facing the same problems as humans (created by humans) which are just as dangerous as harpoons: chemical poisons, toxic waste, huge fishing nets and plastic litter (see hazards). Whales from around the Australian coastline have been found with dangerously high levels of toxic chemicals in their bodies.If we dont help whales to overcome these problems as well, they may still become extinct.There are some very rare species of whales that may already be extinct, or on the brink of extinction. The Indo-Pacific Beaked whale has only been named because of two skulls which were found over 100 years apart! The first was found on a beach at Mackay, in Qld, in 1822, and the second was found in Somalia, Africa in 1955.Nobody has ever knowingly seen an Indo-Pacific Beaked whale alive, but with more and more people beginning to watch and study whales there may be some discoveries! [] YYOUNG WHALESYoung whales are called calves and are very well looked after until they become mature and able to look after themselves.At birth, the mother is assisted by other females, and when the calf is born it is taken up to the surface for its first breath. Until then, its blowhole is closed. Young whales have to be taught to breathe at the surface, and are taken up regularly until they can do it for themselves without forgetting!While they are growing up, calves stay in nursery groups with females to care for them, and they play and learn together for years. They become bonded to all the members of their pod, and are socialised into the rules of the community.Play is important in whales lives, and is not just for the young calves. Even adults are seen breaching, head-slapping and playing with objects like seaweed or dead fish. A sperm whale was observed racing ahead of a group of others with a whole tree trunk in its mouth, looking like a dog with a bone!Many people have seen dolphins bow riding in front of ships, and boats have often been escorted into ports. This sense of fun and exuberance is one of the aspects of whales that humans really identify with. [] ZZEUGLODONAmerican fossil hunters have found the bones of giant sea-serpents in Louisiana, South Carolina and Alabama. These were given the name Zeuglodon and were a type of primitive cetacean living 50 million years ago. They belong to the extinct order of Archaeoceti (which means ancient whales) and were between 15 metres and 21 metres long, weighing around 5,000 kg.Because of their shape, and their specialised teeth, they probably swam about in shallow water. They might have lived like crocodiles and hippopotami do now, because they had nostrils on top of their snouts.ZOOPLANKTONPlankton are tiny organisms in the oceans which form the bottom of the food chain (whales and dolphins are at the top of this particular food chain).Tiny plant organisms are called Phytoplankton, and tiny animal organisms are called Zooplankton. Zooplankton, which include the larvae of jellyfish, crustaceans and fish, live on the phytoplankton, grazing like cattle.They in turn, are eaten by fish and baleen whales. The fish are eaten by toothed whales. Zooplankton are a very important part of the ocean food chain. Produced by Greenpeace Australia, Public Information Unit, PO Box 800 SURRY HILLS NSW 2010 Phone (02) 211 4066 Fax (02) 211 4123. Classifications in this pack are taken from Whales of the World by Lyall Watson (1981) published by Hutchison. Illustrations by Kath Johnson unless otherwise indicated. [List of illustrations in print version] OdontoceteMysticeteDolphin skullFlipperThroat GroovesFlukeFinRostrumBlowholeBaleenTypical Baleen whaleKrill (not to scale)Common Dolphin - watercolour by Nicholas FredmanOrcasHumpback whale by Nicholas FredmanFlipperFlukeFinHumpBlowholeMelonBeakTypical Toothed whale(New York Times, 10th Sept. 1972)A 23-yr-old woman, Yvonne Vladislavich, who swam for 25 miles in the shark infested Indian Ocean after a shipwreck off Lourenzo Marques, Mozambique, says that she owes her life to two dolphins. She was on a cabin cruiser when a wave overturned and sank the boat. Ms Vladislavich decided to swim towards land for help. She had cut her foot and saw half a dozen sharks trailing her. As the sharks circled closer, she said, two dolphins appeared at her side. The dolphins protected her until she reached a buoy and climbed up on it.Gray WhaleHumpback WhaleSei WhaleRight WhaleFinback WhaleBlue WhaleBottlenose DolphinNarwhalPilot WhaleBottlenose WhaleSperm WhaleOrcaEschrichtidaeBalaenopteridaeBalaenidaePhyseteridaeZiphiidaePlatanistidaeMonodontidaeStenidaePhocoenidaeGlobicephalidaeDelphinidaeMysticetiExtinctArchaeocetiOdontocetiWhat a Zeuglodon might have looked like =end=