The seas and oceans are full of mysteries that man, even despite all his advances, has not been able to fully penetrate. Under the surface of the sea there is an entire universe, in which the most diverse creatures come to life. From terrifying sharks to mythological legends like mermaids, everything takes place in the enigmas that occur under the sea. But there exists among all the creatures of the marine fauna, one that stands out for its infinite majesty. Curious facts about whales take us through the exploration of a species as ancient as it is fantastic. Join us at to learn about the best curiosities about whales.
10 Curiosities about whales
From the llanocetus denticrenatus, The first known ancestor of whales, these incredible animals have evolved, crossing the oceans of the entire planet. It is a species that is located in the order of cetaceans mysticetesand which in turn are divided into two genres: Balaena and Eubalaena. Among the curious facts about whales, we have to They can measure between 25 and 32 meters long, and weigh more than a hundred tons. Let’s see the curiosities of the most peculiar whales.
1. They imitate the human voice
One of the most unusual curious facts about whales is the fact that These animals are capable of imitating the human voice, with an astonishing similarity. This particularity earned the astonishment and surprise of the scientific community. These enormous marine animals are capable of varying the pressure in their nose and inflating a sac in their nostrils. With this they manage to generate a sound very similar to a person’s voice.
2. Fast whales
Among the curiosities of orca whales, we find a lot of amazing data. Among those that attract the most attention is the fact that, despite their large size (they usually weigh more than five tons), they are very fast animals. In his swim in the middle of the ocean, They can travel up to fifty kilometers per hour.
3. They all sing the same song
One of the most beautiful customs of humpback whales is the communion of their song. Scientists have proven that all males of this species sing the same song to mate. The melody changes over time, with updated versions fading across the ocean from west to east. According to researchers, this is a fact never before seen in another species.
4. The strangest whale
If we talk about whale curiosities, the strangest in the world is the Travers’ beaked whale, a whale with a toothed blade and five meters long. It is considered the strangest because it is largely unknown. It was not until 2012, when two specimens of this species were discovered dead on a beach in New Zealand. With this discovery it was proven that this species of whale has not yet become extinct.
5. They drink more than 80 cubic meters of water
The rorquals, the group in which the blue, fin and humpback whales are found, are a unique group among mammals. These whales open their mouths, propelling themselves forward. That is how They manage to drink more water than their weight, and then filter out the small fish in record time. Scientists from the Smithsonian Institute and the University of British Columbia explain that at the tip of the chin of this group of whales, there is a sensory organ responsible for coordinating changes in the position of the jaws to swallow all that water.
6. The saddest whale
Among the curiosities of whales, the moving story of the saddest whale in the world stands out. It is a specimen sighted in 1992, in the waters of the North Sea, which was advancing in complete solitude, without family, partner or pod. The investigations came to the conclusion that the problem of the whale’s loneliness was caused by its language. It turns out that these animals communicate through their songs, which are heard at frequencies between 12 and 25 hertz. Well, this whale sings at 52 hertz, so none of its peers can hear it. It is as if he were speaking in another language.
7. The largest animal in the world
On land, the elephant or the giraffe are the species that lead the list of the largest animals, but in the sea, the whale far surpasses other species such as the white shark or the giant squid. The evolution of the blue whale takes millennia, and today it is considered the largest animal in the world. It is an amazing mammal, which can measure up to 32 meters in length. Its tongue can be as heavy as an elephant, and its heart can reach the size of a golf cart.
8. The story behind Moby Dick
Herman Melville, the creator of the famous work Moby Dick, had an amazing imagination, but he was fed by reality. His most famous story was inspired by Mocha Dick, a huge whale that sank an English ship in 1820. Legend has it that the survivors of the event survived on a desert island, having to resort to cannibalism.
9. Friendship between whales
One of the nicest curiosities of whales, is the fact that the females of this species are capable of developing bonds of friendship. You would be surprised to know that whales gather around mates they get along with, and even have the ability to seek out and find them in the ocean. Scientific studies on them show that specimens that have friends are healthier and have more offspring.
10. The longevity of whales
We close this trip with the best curious facts about whales, with details about their long life. Bowhead whales typically live between 60 and 90 years, but There are specimens that have even reached two centuries of existence. In captivity, the life expectancy of these cetaceans can be reduced to only 30 years.
The curiosities of whales present us with the magic of an animal as majestic as it is hurt by the human species. In their marine world, they have been invaded by pollution, resulting in terrible cases, such as that of the whale found with thirty plastic bags in its stomach. The survival of animals and life on the planet starts from human consciousness. We invite you to read these phrases about animal abuse, and reflect on the importance of caring for life in its different manifestations.