Dolpin (3) Flashcards
(30 cards)
What do humpback whale spouts look like?
Short and bushy (although it may appear tall and thin on a windless day)!
Name the three species of whale that you’re likely to see in the English Channel
- Humpback whales
- Sei whales
- Fin whales
What does the spout of a fin whale look like?
Long and columnar, slightly taller than a humpback’s spout!
What does a sei whale’s spout look like?
Similar to a fin whale’s spout
How deep can common dolphins dive?
900 ft (280 m)
How long can common dolphins remain underwater?
Eight minutes
Common dolphin pods scatter into smaller groups during the day. Why?
To feed on rising organisms in the deep scattering layer.
What happens to the groups of common dolphins when the deep scattering layer returns to deeper waters?
The groups come together again for rest or social interaction
This behavior indicates social structures within the species.
Do common dolphins migrate?
Sort of, they go wherever food goes.
What are unique facial characteristics of the humpback whale?
Many knobs or protuberances containing hair follicles
- What is the length of the humpback’s flippers compared to its body?
- What’s notable about this proportion?
- One-third the length of the body
- This proportion is the longest among all cetaceans.
What is notable about the leading edge of the humpback’s flippers (not to be confused with its tail)?
Its flippers are knobby along the leading (front) edge where finger bones end.
What often covers the leading edges of the humpback’s flippers?
Sharp barnacles
What (arguably) is the best-known feature of the humpback?
Vocalizations that cover many octaves and include frequencies beyond human hearing
Who typically sings the humpback songs?
Lone males
How long can humpback songs last?
Up to 20 minutes
After this duration, the songs are often repeated with slight variations.
In which regions do lone humpback males sing their songs?
Warm-water regions where they migrate for breeding
- Do humpback songs remain the same year-round?
- What do songs vary between?
- No, they change from season to season
- Variations occur among different groups of humpbacks.
Humpback songs cover many octaves and include frequencies beyond the _______.
Threshold of human hearing
Where do humpbacks only feed?
At the cold water end of their migration
What is the diet of humpbacks composed of?
Krill, plankton, sardines, saury, mackerel, anchovy, capelin, and other small schooling fish
What technique do humpbacks use to entrap plankton and small fish?
Blowing underwater bubble circles
What feeding behavior do humpbacks exhibit after creating bubble circles?
They swim up through the swarm, mouth agape, taking in large quantities of food
True or False: Humpbacks feed equally throughout their migration.
False - they only eat at the cold water end of their migration
