Aside from the unsolved riddle of whale whiskers, there is the added question of why humpback whales evolved giant tubercles surrounding their hair. No other species has tubercles , and there is no explanation whatsoever as to what they are all about.
How do humpback whales benefit by having tubercles on their fins?
The tubercles allow the very large whales to execute tight turns underwater and swim efficiently; a task imperative for the humpback whales feeding. The tubercles on the flippers help to maintain lift, preventing stall, and decreasing the drag coefficient during turning maneuvers .
Why do humpback whales have tubercles?
It is thought that the single hair in each tubercle is used to detect temperature change in the water, the speed of the whale , and may even help to detect the presence of prey in the whale’s “blind spots.” Along with the idea that these tubercles serve a sensory purpose, comes an idea that tubercles assist with the ...
What are the bumps on a sperm whale?
The highly arched jaw curves upward. The head and sometimes the lips are characterized by a series of bumps called callosities ; these are naturally gray but appear yellow or white because of massive infestation by whale-lice (cyamids).
What do tubercles do?
In the human skeleton, a tubercle or tuberosity is a protrusion that serves as an attachment for skeletal muscles . The muscles attach by tendons, where the enthesis is the connective tissue between the tendon and bone.
What are the bumps on a whale?
The bumps on the rostrum, or head, and the pectoral fins of a humpback whale are, in fact, hair follicles . Called “tubercles,” these fist-sized bumps contain one hair follicle each, connected to a set of sensitive nerves.
Why do whales have barnacles?
Barnacles are opportunistic filter feeders which means they try and grab as much nutrients as they can that floats past them with their hair ‘arms’. So, these organisms benefit greatly from living on an animal that is constantly moving, especially through the nutrient rich cool waters they spend their summers in.
Are whales smooth?
Whales are mammals that breathe air into their lungs and have smooth skin with a small amount of hair .
Why do whales jump out of the water?
Whales breach and jump for many reasons, but one main reason that whales jump is for the loud sound effect . ... This is especially true if there are loud noises in the background of their marine environment, such as vessel noise and weather, which may inhibit their ability to hear and send vocals to other whales.
What does whale lice look like?
Appearance. The body of a whale louse is distinctly flat and considerably reduced at the rear . Its legs, especially the back three pairs of legs, have developed into claw-like protuberances with which it clings to its host. Its length ranges from 5 to 25 millimetres (0.2 to 1 in) depending on the species.
How does a whale look?
Blue whales look true blue underwater , but on the surface their coloring is more a mottled blue-gray. Their underbellies take on a yellowish hue from the millions of microorganisms that take up residence in their skin. The blue whale has a broad, flat head and a long, tapered body that ends in wide, triangular flukes.
What is the largest whale?
The Antarctic blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus ssp. Intermedia) is the biggest animal on the planet, weighing up to 400,000 pounds (approximately 33 elephants) and reaching up to 98 feet in length.
How big can a blue whale get?
The spout of the blue whale can reach more than 30 feet high . Females are bigger than males. The lengthiest blue whales are 110 feet, but they are more commonly between 70 and 80 feet. Adult blue whales weigh up to 150 tons, which makes them the largest animals to ever live.
How do you get rid of tubercles?
Surgical removal of Montgomery’s tubercles involves your doctor making an excision (removal of the bumps) around your areola . This is an outpatient procedure that takes around 30 minutes. Hospitalization is not usually required. You will likely notice scarring after the procedure.
What are the 3 types of tuberculosis?
- Active TB Disease. Active TB is an illness in which the TB bacteria are rapidly multiplying and invading different organs of the body. ...
- Miliary TB. Miliary TB is a rare form of active disease that occurs when TB bacteria find their way into the bloodstream. ...
- Latent TB Infection.
What causes tubercles to form?
Tuberculosis (TB) is an acute or chronic bacterial infection found most commonly in the lungs. The infection is spread like a cold, mainly through airborne droplets breathed into the air by a person infected with TB. The bacteria causes formation of small tissue masses called tubercles.
