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Apologia Zoology 2 - Lesson 2

Blue Whale

The biggest creature in the world. A baleen whale.

Whale Classification

Kingdom Animalia, Phylum Chordata, Class Mammalia, Order Cetacea.

Baleen Whales

Has no teeth - instead has long strips of bristled plates that hang from it's upper mouth. Usually they are bigger than toothed whales.

Toothed Whales

Have teeth


A whale's tail. Whales swim by moving their flukes up and down rather than side to side the way fish swim.


The hole on top of the whale's head that it breathes through. It closes when the whale goes under water.

Beached Whales

Whales that are stranded up on the beach.


When a whale leaps into the air and then purposefully flops down creating a big splash.


When a whale sits straight up in the water with its head positioned straight up and out of the water.


When a whale faces downward in the water with only its fluke sticking out and then slaps the water with a loud sound.


When a whale swims slowly at the surface with very little movement.


Thick layer of fat under the skin of cetaceans.


Fishermen that hunted whales.




Groups of whales that migrate together


The term used for newborn whales

Viviparous Animals

Animals that give birth to live young.


Protruding, rounded forehead on toothed whales that is used for echolocation.




An extremely large pod of dolphins or whales


When dolphins race along near the surface of the water.


Smaller than dolphins, have a long, lean sleek body. Do not have a beak like a dolphin. Has a triangular dorsal fin with no curve.


Killer whales. A black and white toothed whale.


Also known as the Sea Canary, a white, toothed whale.


The peeling off of the outer layer of skin on a Beluga whale.


A type of toothed whale with a single, long horn called a tusk.

Sperm Whales

The biggest of the toothed whales, able to grow up to 60 feet long.

Spermaceti Organ

An organ on the sperm whale's head that scientist think may be used to focus or reflect sound or possibly to make it easier for the whale to dive.

Bachelor Pods

All-male pods of whales.


Small shrimp-like zooplankton that swim in swarms, whales feed heavily on them.

Humpback Whale

Baleen whale best-known for the songs that the males sing.

Types of Baleen whales

Gray whale, humpback whale, right whale, blue whales.

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