What kind of tails do whales have

Fact Of The Week. Humpback whale flukes. Photographed under NOAA permit Grey Whale dorsal ridge — front view. Photo courtesy of Flickr user Minette Layne. Minke Whale dorsal fin with notch. Photo courtesy of Stephanie Stack.

Humpback whales have a lot to their skin: lumpy, bumpy, groovy and scarred with quite a story to tell but we love them anyway! Read More Articles , News. News Articles Sightings Contact Us. Marine wildlife can still be quite extraordinary even in winter-time!

Humpback whales: why are they so lumpy and bumpy? The blowhole of a Humpback Whale. A Humpback whale showing its large mouth! All scarred up The scarred up back of a Humpback whale Over the body of a Humpback whale you can find many, many scars. What Do Whales Eat? What do whales eat? Whales can be classified by whether they have teeth or baleen.

This determines how and what. How long can a whale hold its breath? Who holds the record? A Cuvier's Beaked Whale holds the current record.

Removing the Elwha Damn. Whale Surfacing Behaviors. Whales, or to use the scientific word 'Cetaceans ' can spend much of their life below the surface. But once. Record numbers of humpback calves spotted. There were no humpbacks off southwest B. This juvenile killer whale, first spotted. Why Do Whales Jump. It is also why their tail fins are horizontal and not vertical like those of fish. The tail fin, or fluke, is used for propulsion through the water.

Although they no longer have hind limbs, whales and dolphins still have vestigial pelvis bones. In some species these are used to help support reproductive organs. The tails of some whales, such as humpbacks, have distinctive markings which enables scientists to individually identify each whale. Other uses for the tail include occasionally slapping them on the surface of the water as a form of communication or to stun prey at the surface or underwater.

Another unusual activity employed by species such as southern right whales, is "tail sailing" where a whale will lift the tail vertically out of the water for long periods of time. The pectoral fins on each side provide directional control and the dorsal fin in those species that have one provides stability whilst swimming.