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Sei whales can be broken down into two sub species: the northern sei whale and the southern sei whale.

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Beluga whales are a unique species in many ways. It's not just the kids but adults too love watching beluga whales. Unfortunately, they are only found in the subarctic and arctic regions. Hence, you have to head up north to Alaska or Canada to spot some beluga whales. Beluga whale is considerably different from the gray whale, blue whale, sperm whale and humpback whale. Here are some beluga whale facts that you should know.

Characteristics

Beluga whales have a pure white skin. They are smaller than most other whales and they don't have the dorsal fin. Beluga whale has a rounded head which is broad and a substantially large forehead. Their physical structure, including the blubber that's five inch thick and the strong dorsal ridge, assists them to cut through ice waters. Beluga whales have teeth and their tails are notched, broad and look like flippers.

Diet

Beluga whales eat other marine species but what's available from time to time. Seasonal changes bring in a variation to their diets. It is owing to this dietary habit that beluga whales play an important role in maintaining the ecological balance in the arctic and subarctic regions. Typically, a beluga whale would feed on eulachon, salmon, smelt, rainbow sole, tomcod, char, whitefish, arctic cod, shrimp, octopus, saffron, herring, crabs, mussels, clams, sandworms and snails among others.

Location

Beluga whales are predominantly found in Canada, Alaska, Norway, Greenland and Russia. There are some stocks of beluga whales in the US for research purposes and they are in Bristol Bay, Cook Inlet, Beaufort Sea, Chukchi Sea and Bering Sea. Beluga whales are not an endangered species among whales because they aren't targeted as much as the other commonly found whales. The exact population of beluga whale is not known right now but estimates suggest that there are several hundred thousand.

Other Interesting Facts

Beluga whales have un-fused cervical vertebrae which makes them capable of moving their head up and down and sideways. Beluga whale uses various types of sounds to navigate underwater and to find its prey. From whistles to chirps, clicks to inaudible sounds to humans, beluga whale has a wide range of vocal abilities.

Beluga whales are also called sea canaries because of their vocal abilities. They can dive up to depths of eight hundred meters and such dives can be as long as twenty five minutes. The term 'Beluga' actually originates from 'bielo' which is Russian for 'white'. Interestingly, baby beluga whales are dark gray and they turn white as they grow up. Most beluga whales will take as many as eight years to sport the pure white color.

Did you know that the beluga whale can swim backwards and it can control the shape of its broad rounded forehead?

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Beluga whales are a unique species in many ways. It's not just the kids but adults too love watching beluga whales. Unfortunately, they are only found in the subarctic and arctic regions. Hence, you have to head up north to Alaska or Canada to spot some beluga whales.

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About Bowhead Whale

The Bowhead whale is closely related to the Right whale; they have a similar shape. These whales, like the right whales, have been hunted almost to extinction. There are probably only about 10,000 left in the wild. The Bowhead whales live in the cold waters near the Arctic Ocean.

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The Bowhead whale is closely related to the Right whale; they have a similar shape. These whales, like the right whales, have been hunted almost to extinction. There are probably only about 10,000 left in the wild. The Bowhead whales live in the cold waters near the Arctic Ocean.

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Unlike most other whales, the beluga has a very flexible neck that enables it to nod and turn its head in all directions.

Belugas generally live together in small groups known as pods. They are social animals and vocal communicators using a diversified language of clicks, whistles, and clangs. Belugas can also copy a variety of other sounds.

These whales are common in the Arctic Ocean's coastal waters, though they are found in subarctic waters as well. Arctic belugas migrate southward in large herds when the sea freezes over.

Belugas feed on fish, crustaceans, and worms.

The whale is related to the tusked "unicorn" whale known as the narwhal.

The beluga is not related to the sturgeon of the same name, which has been heavily fished for its famous caviar.

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The beluga, or white whale, is one of the smallest species of whale. Their distinctive color and prominent foreheads make them easily identifiable. Unlike most other whales, the beluga has a very flexible neck that enables it to nod and turn its head in all directions.

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Fun facts about whales for kids including photos and printable activity worksheets; suitable for Kindergarten through Grade 6.

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Blue Whale for Kids: Learn about the giant mammal.

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What are blue whales? Kids find out about the largest mammal on earth that lives in the ocean.

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Get the lowdown on these marine marvels...

Fast Facts
Type: Mammal
Diet: Omnivore
Size: 48 to 62.5 ft (14.6 to 19 m)
Weight: 40 tons (36 metric tons)
Group name: Pod
Protection status: Endangered

Humpbacks are the noisiest whales, with males "singing" for up to 15 minutes at a time. The sounds they make are the most varied in the animal kingdom, ranging from high-pitched squeals to low, rumbling gurgles. Only males "sing" and experts think they do it to attract females or to let other males know they're in the area.

Humpback whales are known for their magical songs, which travel for great distances through the world's oceans. These sequences of moans, howls, cries, and other noises are quite complex and often continue for hours on end. Scientists are studying these sounds to decipher their meaning. It is most likely that humpbacks sing to communicate with others and to attract potential mates.

These whales are found near coastlines, feeding on tiny shrimp-like krill, plankton and small fish. Humpbacks migrate annually from summer feeding grounds near the poles to warmer winter breeding waters closer to the Equator.

Mothers and their young swim close together, often touching one another with their flippers with what appear to be gestures of affection. Females nurse their calves for almost a year, though it takes far longer than that for a humpback whale to reach full adulthood. Calves do not stop growing until they are ten years old.

Humpbacks are powerful swimmers, and they use their massive tail fin, called a fluke, to propel themselves through the water and sometimes completely out of it. These whales, like others, regularly "breach". This is when the whales leap from the water before landing with a tremendous splash. Scientists aren't sure if this breaching behavior serves some purpose, such as cleaning pests from the whale's skin, or whether whales simply do it for fun!

Photos: Getty Images UK

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Humpback Whale Facts! | National Geographic Kids

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Get the lowdown on these marine marvels... Fast Facts Type: Mammal Diet: Omnivore Size: 48 to 62.5 ft (14.6 to 19 m) Weight: 40 tons (36 metric tons) Group name: Pod Protection status: Endangered Humpbacks are the noisiest whales, with males "singing" for up to 15 minutes at a time.

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Fun Whale Facts for Kids

Whales are huge, warm-blooded, air breathing mammals that live in the sea. There are many different species including the blue whale, killer whale, humpback whale and minke.

Learn more about whale conservation, their habitat, migration and other interesting information with our fun whale facts.

Many whales are toothless. They use a plate of comb-like fibre called baleen to filter small crustaceans and other creatures from the water.

There are 79 to 84 different species of whale. They came in many different shapes and sizes!

A baby whale is called a calf. Whales form groups to look after calves and feed together. These groups are often made up of all female or all male whales.

Whales that are found in both Northern and Southern hemisphere never meet or breed together. Their migration is timed so that they are never in breeding areas at the same time.

The arched lower lip of a whale can often make it look like it is smiling! However, this isn't a "real" smile as the blubber in the head of the whale prevents the muscles of the face from reaching the surface.

You can tell the age of a whale by looking at the wax plug in its ear. This plug in the ear has a pattern of layers when cut lengthwise that scientists can count to estimate the age of the whale.

Whales love to sing! They use this as a call to mates, a way to communicate and also just for fun! After a period of time they get bored of the same whale song and begin to sing a different tune.

Sometimes whales make navigation mistakes during migrations. Although they may have made the mistake days before, they don't realise it until they becoming stranded.

Whales support many different types of life. Several creatures, such as barnacles and sea lice, attach themselves to the skin of whales and live there.

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Whale Facts - Blue, Humpback, Orca, Killer Whales, Song, Species, Interesting Info

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Fun Whale Facts for Kids Whales are huge, warm-blooded, air breathing mammals that live in the sea. There are many different species including the blue whale, killer whale, humpback whale and minke. Learn more about whale conservation, their habitat, migration and other interesting information with our fun whale facts.

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Top Whale Facts for Kids

1. Whales are mammals.

This means that whale calves grow inside their mothers until they are born. Besides, they are nursed and taken care by their mothers until they reach certain age.

2. Whales breathe air as we do.

Therefore, they need to reach the surface of the ocean to breathe because they cannot breathe underwater.

3. To breathe, whales have a blowhole in the top of their heads.

When they reach the surface, they take air in through this blowhole.

4. There are two types of whales, Baleen Whales and Toothed Whales.

There are several species of whales out there, but they are classified according to the way they feed in two types, baleen whales and toothed whales.

5. Baleen whales feed from krill and plankton.

Krill are shrimp-like creatures which are very important ocean creatures.

6.Toothed whales eat several kind of fish, like tuna, cod and salmon among others and some small mammals like seals.

7. The Blue whale is the largest animal in the world.

Even more, it is the largest animal that has ever existed, even larger than the largest dinosour ever found. The blue whale is a baleen whale.

8. Some baleen whales sing.

Particularly the blue whales and the humpback whales are well known for singing.

9. Whales can swim as fast as 30 miles per hour.

10. Some Whales can stay underwater for as long as 90 minutes.

This applies mainly for the sperm whale which can stay underwater for as long as 90 minutes, although a typical dive for other species is around 35 minutes.

11. Whales do not sleep as we do.

To rest, whales sleep only half brain so they remember to take air in, otherwise they would drown.

12. The most famous story about whales is Moby Dick.

Moby Dick is a novel released in 1851 by Herman Melville.

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1. Whales are mammals. This means that whale calves grow inside their mothers until they are born. Besides, they are nursed and taken care by their mothers until they reach certain age. 2. Whales breathe air as we do. Therefore, they need to reach the surface of the ocean to breathe because they cannot breathe underwater.

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NOAA Fisheries-the trusted government authority on the science and management of fish, other marine life, and their habitats.