Pregnant females give birth to their calves in warmer waters because they would not survive the harsh winter months of the poles . Initially when calves are born, they do not have an insulating blubber layer making them vulnerable to colder temperatures.
Why do whales breed in warmer waters?
The simplest explanation for whale migration is diet and whale breeding. During the warm months of the year whales migrate to cold waters where the food is, then, when the weather becomes colder and the food scarce , whales will migrate to warmer water for mating and breeding.
Do whales like warm waters?
Whales are warm blooded marine mammals that can tolerate cold water temperatures. Whales use blubber as an insulation layer to help maintain the energy and warmth when they dive to cool depths or travel to cold waters such as in Alaska.
Do humpback whales stay in warm water?
During the winter, they swim to the warm waters closer to the Equator , around Hawaii, South America and Africa. The exception is the humpbacks that live in the Arabian Sea. They stay there year-round, eating and mating all in the same area, according to the ACS.
How long do GREY whale calves stay with their mothers?
The calves nurse for around 6 months , during which time the mother provides up to 50 gallons of milk each day.
What are the two main reasons for the migrations of whales?
Food and reproduction are the main reasons whales migrate, and fortunately, because they migrate in such a cyclical pattern, it makes it relatively easy to view them off the east coast of Australia.
Why do gray whales swim to warmer waters in winter?
Because they migrate to warm water nursery lagoons in the winter, and then to cold water Arctic feeding grounds in the summer, they are able to tolerate wide ranges in both water and air temperature. ... Fat is lighter than water; this helps the gray whale float (gives it positive buoyancy).
Why do whales not get cold?
Whales, dolphins, seals and other marine mammals can generate their own heat and maintain a stable body temperature despite fluctuating environmental conditions. Like people, they are endothermic homeotherms—or more colloquially, “warm-blooded.”
Why is a whale not a fish?
Whales are warm blooded , which means they keep a high body temperature that does not change in the cold water. Fish are cold-blooded, so their body temperature changes depending on the temperature of their environment. ... Fish lay eggs, which must still grow into a baby fish. So whales are indeed mammals and not fish!
How do whales stay warm in Antarctica?
Background. Blubber is important for most marine mammals, such as whales and seals. The thick layer of fat provides insulation from cold ocean temperatures. ... Weddell seals live in Antarctica and can have more than 2 inches of blubber.
How many babies can a humpback whale have in a lifetime?
The mother goes on with her life and has another baby 2-4 years after her first one. Blue whales can produce about 10 or below babies in their lifetime! Instead of leaving the baby when it’s born like most animals, the mother stays by its side until she knows it can survive on its own.
What is the biggest thing a humpback whale can eat?
The 65-foot-long mammals have large esophaguses to feed on larger prey such as giant squid , which they sometimes swallow whole. In fact, colossal squid—which can reach 46 feet long—have been found inside a sperm whale’s stomach.
Why whale must be fat to survive?
They look fat because they are covered in a big, thick layer of blubber . That blubber is insulating, which means it keeps them warm in cold, arctic oceans. If they are swimming in a part of the sea where food supplies are short, they can use the extra calories in their blubber to keep them going.
Do whales give birth out of their mouth?
Because whales are mammals, their calves grow inside their mothers and are born through live births . ... Once a female whale gives birth, they typically nudge their calf up to the ocean surface so they can take their first breath.
What is baby blue whale?
Newborn blue whales are big babies ! They can reach about 23 feet in length and can weigh 5,000 to 6,000 pounds at birth. A nursing blue whale mother produces over 50 gallons of milk a day. ... At 6 months old, calves have just about doubled in length, reaching on average over 52 feet long.
Why do whales give birth tail first?
Being born head first is useful on land, because a baby mammal can start breathing air before it is fully delivered. For an aquatic whale, sticking a tail out first means it will be ready to start swimming once labor is over .
