A Variety Of Whales

Whales are members of a scientific order known as Cetacea. Cetaceans are found in every ocean and consist of two main suborders: baleen whales (or Mysticeti) and toothed whales (Odontoceti), which also include dolphins and porpoises.

- Marcia Amidon Lusted

Whales are mammals, so they are warm-blooded, females give birth to live young and nurse them with milk, and they have hair (although not a lot). They can remain under water for a long time, but they need to breathe air and must surface to fill their lungs. They have a dramatic range in size: The blue whale is the largest whale and the largest living creature in the world today: It can reach almost 100 feet long. The dwarf sperm whale is the smallest whale, generally growing to about eight feet. Baleen whales appear to have a good sense of smell, while toothed whales have a good sense of hearing. Here is a look at the most heavily hunted whales by the U.S. whaling industry in the 19th century.

Sperm Whale