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Spout shapes differ among species, which facilitates identification. This is followed by inhaling fresh air into the lungs. A humpback whale's lungs can hold about 5,000 litres (1,300 US gal) of air. [4] [5] Baleen whales have two blowholes positioned in a V-shape, while toothed whales have only one blowhole. [6]
Reaching a maximum confirmed length of 29.9 m (98 ft) and weighing up to 199 t (196 long tons; 219 short tons), it is the largest animal known ever to have existed. [a] The blue whale's long and slender body can be of various shades of greyish-blue on its upper surface and somewhat lighter underneath.
[67] [68] Between dives, the sperm whale surfaces to breathe for about eight minutes before diving again. [36] Odontoceti (toothed whales) breathe air at the surface through a single, S-shaped blowhole, which is extremely skewed to the left. Sperm whales spout (breathe) 3–5 times per minute at rest, increasing to 6–7 times per minute after ...
This is unusual, considering that deep-diving, breath-holding animals would be expected to swim slowly to conserve oxygen. The animal's high metabolism possibly allows it to sprint at deep depths, which would also give it shorter diving periods than some other marine mammals. [21] This may also be the case for long-finned pilot whales. [22]
Many species can comfortably hold their breath for over 100 minutes including Elephant seals, Sperm whales, and Weddel seals. For land mammals, the surprise champion is--get ready for it--the sloth !
Minke whales have between 240 and 360 baleen plates on each side of their mouths. Most of the length of the back, including dorsal fin and blowholes, appears at once when the whale surfaces to breathe. Minke whales typically live between 30–50 years, but in some cases, they may live for up to 60 years.
Fishermen do not fish for the whales, holding them in high regard and viewing them as akin to family members. They believe the whales bring good fortune, and their presence is considered as a sign of a healthy marine environment. [128] In Vietnam, whales hold a sense of divinity.
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