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Beluga whale is a medium sized marine mammal which is white in color. The white coloration is a result of its adaptation to the icy waters of the Arctic Ocean. The name originates from a Russian word meaning white. Some people also spell it as belukha whale so as to differentiate it from the beluga sturgeon fish species. A thick layer of fat called blubber in these whales keeps its body warm. It does not have dorsal fin which enables free movement beneath slabs of ice.
Belugas have a muscular and thick body, narrow tail and a small head. The head is round with a short beak and a very prominent forehead called melon. The vertebrae of the neck are not fused and this permits the whale to turn and nod its head.
The adult belugas are white in color while the calves are gray. This color lightens with age. But all belugas retain a tinge of gray on the edges of the flukes and flippers. In place of the dorsal fin, belugas have a ridge which reaches down the back till the rear. The ridge may be notched. The fluke contains a central notch which is deep and broad. The flippers are broad, short and little curled upwards. Their teeth are conical and used to grasp, hold and swallow a prey but not for chewing.
The males are bigger than the females and they weigh from 3,000 to 3,300 pounds. They feed on many life forms like crabs, shrimps, squids, sandworms, clamps and fishes. They feast on salmons especially when they return to the sea after spawning in fresh waters.
Belugas migrate to shallow and warm waters coming from the rivers in order to mate. The gestation period lasts for 14 months. The female belugas nurse their calves as in all mammals. The whales can bear calves once every 2 to 3 years. In some coasts, they are found through out the year and show no pattern in migration.
Belugas produce sounds in a wide range which is audible on the surface of the water. The name sea canary was given to them since they were audible through the hull in boats. The sounds range from low to high frequency which may not be audible to humans. The echolocation which is used to identify potential prey is said to be housed in the melon. The belugas have typical sounds for various signals like chirps, clicks, squeaks and whistles.
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Kum Martin is an online leading expert in animal and pets. He also offers top quality articles like:
Blue Whale Facts, Humpback Whale Information
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