Beluga Whale

Beluga Whale!!!

Scientific name: Delphinapterus leucas

Habitat:

Belugas swim among icebergs and ice floes in the icy waters of the arctic and subarctic, where water temperatures may be as low as 32 degrees Fahrenheit. They are usually found in shallow coastal waters, often in water barely deep enough to cover their bodies.  In the summer though they are also found in warm-water estuaries and river basins. Reproduction: Male beluga whales become sexually mature at about eight to nine years of age, and females at about four to seven years.  Breeding generally takes place in March through May, about 10 months after calving. And one male, may mate with several females whales.                                            Status: The Beluga whale is starting to become extinct in many parts of the world, and marine biologists are starting to see less and less of them.  While some cooperates are trying to help protect them such as ,SeaWorld, they have no idea if it will help at all. Fun Facts! The blubber is usually around 10-15 cm thick. Imagine taking the mattress off of your bed, wrapping it around your body, then going swimming, that's what it would be like to be a beluga whale.  They have a dorsal ridge on their back instead of a fin. Since they're from the arctic, they use the ridge to break through ice to find a place to breathe. And a dorsal fin would bang on the ice every time that they swim. Beluga whales are mammals which means they have to have hair or fur on some part of their body at some point in their life. While they are a fetus and after they are first born, they have some hair on their top lip, also called their rostrum. Endangered Due to the effects of ocean pollution and Beluga hunting, Beluga whales are, unfortunately, one of the most endangered species of whale around. The effects of ocean pollution must be addressed if the issue of Beluga whales going extinct to go away.  Beluga and many other whales are such magnificent creatures and the world cannot afford to lose these intelligent creatures. I chose the beluga whale just because I always remember seeing it as sea world and I found it to be way different from the other whales with its pearl white skin and funny shaped body, I was really interested to learn more.     .