ADAPTATION- Physical and behavioral changes that occur slowly over time and help an organism live more easily in its environment
AMBERGRIS- A waxlike substance found in the intestines of a sperm whale, used in perfumes.
BALEEN- Rows of horny, triangular plates which hang from the upper jaw of mysticete whales. The plates are composed of a protein material, like human hair and fingernails called keratin. Baleen, or whalebone as it is called, filters the planktonic prey and fish from the water.
BIOMAGNIFICATION- The process of accumulation of toxics or other chemicals through the food web, from base organisms with small amounts up to the top predators that receive all chemicals from below.
BLOWHOLE- The nasal opening of a whale, which is located on top of the head, mysticetes have two external nasal openings, while odontocetes have only one blowhole.
BLUBBER- The layer of skin, comprised of fat and oil, which provides insulation for a whale.
BREACH- A behavior in which a whale leaps into the air
CALF- A newborn or young whale that is still dependent on its mother for protection and/or nourishment.
CETACEAN- Marine mammals of the Order Cetacea including the great whales, dolphins and porpoises. Collectively all members of this order are considered whales
COW- A mature female whale
DOLPHIN- A toothed whale having sharp, conical teeth and a beak.
DORSAL FIN- A triangular-shaped structure found along the back or dorsal surface of many whales. It is thought to help stabilize the whale during swimming and diving and possibly aid in maintaining its constant internal body temperature.
ECHOLOCATION- The process employed by toothed whales to locate distant or difficult to see objects by use of sound waves which are reflected back to the whale from the object. Also called sonar. See melon.
ENDANGERED SPECIES- A species of plant or animal in danger of becoming extinct.
EVOLUTION- A process of continuous change and growth over time.
EXTINCT- When a species of plant or animal no longer exists in living form.
FLIPPER- The distinctive structure found on either side of the whale's body, also known as pectoral fins. They are used primarily for steering, turning, and controlling the whale's vertical position in the water.
FLUKES- The two cartilaginous structures that comprise what is known as the tail of a whale. They are used primarily to propel the animal's body through the water.
GENITAL SLIT- the opening on the underside or ventral side of a whale that accesses the internal genital organs. Found on both males and females.
GILLNET- A stationary fishing net about 500 yards long suspended about 6 feet off the bottom.
HEMISPHERICAL LOBE- A small bump or swelling located directly behind the genital slit on female humpback whales. Although its function is unknown, it is used by scientists to determine the gender of individual animals in the field.
KRILL- The common name for euphausiid shrimp, which are small crustaceans that many species of baleen whales feed upon.
MAMMAL- An animal that breathes air, has lungs, and possess mammary glands for nursing their young.
MELON- A waxlike organ, located in front of the skull of toothed whales, used for echolocation.
MIGRATION- A seasonal movement from one geographical region to another.
MONOGAMOUS- The term used when animals mate for life, taking no other partners until they die or go into senescence.
MYSTICETE- A suborder of which that possess baleen instead of teeth. These whales strain their food from the water with their baleen.
ODONTOCETE- A suborder of whales which have teeth of uniform shape and function. Dolphins, porpoises, the sperm whale and the beluga are all toothed whales and eat primarily fish and squid.
PHYTOPLANKTON- Free floating microscopic plant life that serve as the base of aquatic food webs
POD- Term used to describe a group of Cetaceans, usually refers to large dolphin and porpoise groups.
PORPOISE- A toothed whale having spade shaped teeth and no beak
ROSTRUM- The scientific term used to describe the nose or snout of a whale.
RORQUAL- The group of mysticete whales that characteristically has ventral pleats and gulp feeds. Includes blue, fin, and humpback whales.
SPOUT- The expired gases from a whale's lungs that forms a visible vapor cloud, often called a blow since it comes out of the blowholes.
STOVEBOLTS- Enlarged tubercles or hair follicles on the snout of humpback whales, believed to enable the detection of movement, such as from fish, in the surrounding water.
VENTRAL GROOVES- A series of pleats found along the underside of most mysticetes. These grooves are related to the feeding behavior of the whale that possess them and expand to accommodate large volume of water and fish.
VERTEBRAE- The bones that make up the backbone of vertebrate animals.
ZOOPLANKTON- Microscopic animal life that generally feeds on phytoplankton. Includes dinoflagellates, copepods, krill and diatoms.
