The koala bear features several peculiar anatomical characteristics, some tailored to its arboreal and eucalyptus-centric lifestyle. Koalas are 60-85 cm long and weigh 4-15 kg. They have dense fur for insulation and sharp claws with opposable digits, which make them…
Koala habitat loss is a significant concern primarily caused by urban development and agricultural expansion, which destroy and fragment eucalypt forests essential for koalas’ survival. This extensive habitat loss has resulted in dramatic population declines, increased resource competition, and heightened…
While toothed whales, including orcas and belugas, are equipped with teeth for grasping and tearing prey, baleen, such as humpbacks and blue whales, utilize a completely different mechanism—baleen plates—to sieve minute food particles from the ocean. This distinction shows the…
An interesting fact about whales, particularly baleen species, is that they have hair! Hairs on baleen bodies have a sparse and sometimes almost invisible distribution. These hairs are residual traits from their ancestors and are believed to serve sensory functions.…
Sperm whales sleep vertically, a curious behaviour unusual in other whale species. What are the physiological mechanisms and the evolutionary pressures that might have shaped such behaviour? How do these giants manage oxygen consumption and buoyancy for such periods? What…
Orcas, or killer whales, have a top position in the ocean’s food chain. They prey on various species, from fish to large whales. Each pod of orcas has developed unique hunting strategies based on its specific dietary needs and the…
Water spouting is a characteristic made possible by the blowhole, an anatomical feature of whales positioned on the top of their head. Whales are mammals that can breathe. Because they can breathe but live in the water, they have adapted…
Yes, whales are indeed mammals. They share several critical characteristics with other mammals, such as regulating their body temperature, giving birth to live young, and nourishing their offspring with milk. Whales breathe air through blowholes and give birth to fully…
Whales can migrate thousands of miles across the globe, a biological mechanism critical for these marine mammal‘s survival. Migrations are essential for reproduction and feeding, yet these journeys are increasingly difficult due to human-induced environmental changes and direct threats. Understanding…
As marine traffic continues to expand, overlapping busy shipping routes with whales’ migratory paths often results in fatal encounters. The increasing incidence of whales being struck by ships raises questions about the adequacy of current maritime navigation practices and the…