mammals

BLUBBER WEEK- DAY 5

It’s the last day of Blubber Week! There will be a an ornament craft tomorrow! We’re extra excited for today’s animal, because it is BIG! And when we say big we mean bigger than elephant big! So are you ready to meet this extreme mammal? Let’s do this…

MEET THE BLUE WHALE!

   Range/Habitat: Oceans worldwide except the Mediterranean-

Arabic Gulf

    Diet: Carnivore: eats only krill

   Length/Weight: 66-98 ft/110-176 tons

   Conservation Status: endangered

Fun Facts:

• Blue Whales are the largest animal on the planet!
• They can have 50 tons of blubber.
• Blue whales have baleen. Baleen is a hair like structure in their mouths that filter out tiny krill from the water. Baleen is made of keratin (the same stuff that makes up your nails and hair).
• They can eat up to 40 million krill a day! Whew, that is a bunch of tiny little animals.
• Blue whales throats can swell to 4 times their normal size when taking in water and krill. They expel the water and swallow the krill.
• They feed mostly in the summer in cold waters and migrate to warmer waters in the winter.
• Blue whales have slender bodies with one small dorsal fin.
• Blue whales can dive to depths of 655 ft.
• The calves (babies) are up to 23ft long and 2 ½ tons when born! That’s about the weight of a car!
• Blue whales also produce the loudest sound of any animal on earth at 180 decibels. That is louder than the jet engine of an airplane. WOW! It’s so loud that it could cause damage to your eardrums!
• Blue whales produce many different sounds, calls and songs!

We could go on all day about the largest animal on our planet Earth! These special giants are endangered, but are protected now! Our oceans wouldn’t be the same without these amazing singing creatures! You can find a few really neat models in museums around the world! The one at the American Natural History Museum even tweets (@NatHistoryWhale).

Here’s a video of researchers catching the songs of blue whales from National Geographic!

BLUBBER WEEK- DAY #3

Do you have your coat on for day 3 of blubber week? Well, if you don’t you better grab it because all this week we are heading to the chilly arctic circle! Today we meet a large and in charge bear! Are you all bundled up? Let’s go!

MEET THE POLAR BEAR!

   Range/Habitat: Arctic/ice, shoreline

   Diet: Carnivore: seals, carrion

   Length/Weight: 7-11ft/800- 1500lb

   Conservation Status: Vulnerable

Fun Facts:

• Polar bears are the largest members of the bear family and the largest land carnivore on earth.
• They have two coats of fur, an outer translucent coat that absorbs the sun’s heat and a dense undercoat.
• Polar bears have black skin that helps them absorb heat.
• They also have a thick layer of blubber to help them stay warm.
• Polar bears have rough pads on their paws that help prevent them from slipping and sliding on the ice.
• They are excellent swimmers and are often seen in open waters.
• They use their large front paws to swim.
• Polar bears can smell a seal from a half mile away.
• Female polar bears dig dens in winter and stay there to give birth to 1 to 3 cubs.
• Polar bear cubs stay with their moms until around the age of 2. They spend that time learning to hunt and be polar bears!

Polar bears are amazing animals! They are built to live in the cold arctic! These large and in-charge bears are a protected species! We hope to have them around for a very long time!

BLUBBER WEEK!!

For the past two years in December we’ve featured animals who live in the North Pole! This year we’ve decided to feature animals who have blubber! Blubber is found in marine mammals. This layer of fat between the skin and muscle keeps the animal warm in cold waters. Since we don’t have blubber, we’ll be taking the E & E sub out on today’s adventure! Are you read to meet the unicorn of the sea! A unicorn you say, but unicorns aren’t real! You’re right, unicorns aren’t real, but this wild looking whale is real! Come find out more about…

MEET THE NARWHAL!

   Range/Habitat: Arctic/Arctic Ocean

   Diet:  Carnivore: cod, mollusks, crustaceans

   Length/Weight: 13-20 ft/ 2000-3,500 lbs

   Conservation Status: Near Threatened

Fun facts:

• The Narwhal is often called the unicorn of the sea.
• They have the most northerly range of any mammal on the planet.
• Narwhals have a modified upper incisor tooth that grows up to 9ft long.
• This tooth looks like a horn. It grows through the upper mouth and is seen mostly in male Narwhals, but females can have small tusks.  Scientists aren’t completely sure what the purpose of the tusk is, but think it might be for attracting females.
• The long tusk is made of ivory, just like an elephants tusks! Tusks are spiraled.
• Narwhals have a thick layer of blubber, like other arctic animals that help keep them warm in the cold water.
• Narwhals swim in groups called pods. Pods can include as many as 1000 individuals.
• Narwhals are very communicative and use a wide range sounds, including clicks and whistles.
• They suck food through their powerful lips and tongue.

Narwhals are amazing animals! They survive in very cold waters and grow this awesome long tusk that makes them look unique!  If you could pick a crazy adaptation like tusks what would it be? We’re still deciding on what we would like! Look for our narwhal Christmas ornament craft later this week too!