Are Whales Mammals? Understanding Whale Ancestors in One Article

Whales fall into two major categories: baleen whales and toothed whales. In the waters of our country, there are more than 30 species of whales. So, are whales mammals? What animal is the ancestor of whales? Let's find out together!

1. Are whales mammals?

Whales are mammals. Whales belong to the phylum Chordata, subphylum Vertebrata, class Mammalia, subclass Eutheria, and are marine mammals. There are about eighty species of whales in the world, living in oceans and rivers. Apart from a few species that live in fresh water, the rest all inhabit the ocean. Everyone should note that whales do not actually belong to the fish; they are mammals that live in the water.

2. What animal is the ancestor of whales?

It is speculated that the ancestor of whales was most likely a terrestrial hoofed animal native to North America, Europe and Asia——the Mesonychidae. Some members of the mesonychids were as small as a domestic dog, while others were as tall as a bear. However, since the evolutionary process of many animals goes from small to large, it is therefore possible that cetaceans evolved from small mesonychids. According to speculation, these mesonychids, which had few teeth and caught fish in shallow water, gradually shifted to an amphibious way of life, and then over a long evolutionary process became today's various whales and dolphins.

3. Current Status of Whale Populations

Due to environmental degradation and extensive hunting by humans, members of the whale group, especially some of the larger members, have been widely hunted because of their high economic value, and many cetaceans are now on the verge of extinction. The International Whaling Commission (IWC) is an international organization responsible for managing whaling and cetacean conservation. After commercial whaling caused a sharp decline in whale numbers, the IWC decided to take action to protect cetaceans, including a temporary ban on commercial whaling starting in 1986, and the establishment of the Indian Ocean Cetacean Sanctuary and the Southern Ocean Cetacean Sanctuary in 1979 and 1994 respectively. However, from 1986 to the present, because some countries such as Japan and Norway have exploited loopholes in IWC resolutions and, under the banner of “scientific whaling”, have already killed more than 25,000 whales. At present, the countries still engaged in whaling include Norway, Iceland and Japan, as well as some indigenous tribes in Siberia, Alaska and northern Canada.

4. What Food Do Whales Eat

Whales generally feed on mollusks, fish and plankton, and some species can also prey on seals, fur seals and the like. Whales must surface to breathe at regular intervals in the water. Generally, in winter they swim from high-latitude cold-water areas to low-latitude warm-water areas to give birth, and in summer they swim back from low-latitude areas to high-latitude cold-water areas to feed. Due to extensive hunting by humans, many cetaceans are now on the verge of extinction.

The above is the little knowledge about whales introduced to you by the Tuliu.com editor. We hope it can help you!