Whales
method of breathing:
lungs, oxygen supply, stored in muscles
size & weight:
largest species (blue whale): maximum 33 meters and 170,000 kg
smallest species (dwarf sperm whale): maximum 2.7 meter and 272 kg
communication:
baleen whales
low frequentie sounds
toothed whales
echolocation
temperature regulation:
warm-bloode
enemies:
humans (hunt, pollution, noise disturbances) and diseases
food:
baleen whales
small ocean fauna, plankton and small shellfish
toothed whales
fish, cuttlefish, sometimes even marine mammals
movement:
swimming
Whales in the North Sea
In the North Sea, there is actually only one common whale species: the minke whale. Other whales that strand on the coast of the North Sea are all wanderers. Of those, the sperm whale is the most common. Sei whales, fin whales and humpbacks sometimes also strand. Every once in a while, large whales are spotted swimming in the North Sea.
On Texel
- De bultrug bij Texel in 2009, Salko de Wolf
Sometimes, you can spot whales from Texel, like the humpback in 2007 and again in 2009. Dead whales also occasionally wash ashore. Ecomare has skeletal parts from dozens of species in its collection. In the 17th, 18th and 20th century, Texelaars were among those that went whale hunting, although it wasn't as many as on Ameland. You can find a few whale bone trophies on Texel, like those at the Maritime and Beachcombing museum in Oudeschild.
See also
Info
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