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'''Whales''' are marine mammals of the order the [[Cetacea|Cetacea]].

'''Whales''' are marine mammals of the order the [[Cetacea|Cetacea]].

Living whales are seperated into the toothed whales (which includes [[dolphin]]s, [[porpoise]]s, [[narwhal]]s, [[beaked whale]]s and [[sperm whale]]s) and the whalebone whales; those (mostly very large) cetaceans which have teeth replaced by baleen (whalebone) to filter small prey from the water, which are what people generally think of when the word whale is used. The whalebone whales include the rorquals - the [[blue whale]], fin whale, sei whale, Bryde's whale, [[minke whale]], [[grey whale]]; the [[humpback whale]]; and the various [[right whale]]s.

Living whales are separated into the toothed whales (which includes [[dolphin]]s, [[porpoise]]s, [[narwhal]]s, [[beaked whale]]s and [[sperm whale]]s) and the whalebone whales; those (mostly very large) cetaceans which have teeth replaced by baleen (whalebone) to filter small prey from the water, which are what people generally think of when the word whale is used. The whalebone whales include the rorquals - the [[blue whale]], fin whale, sei whale, Bryde's whale, [[minke whale]], [[grey whale]]; the [[humpback whale]]; and the various [[right whale]]s.

Although whales are famed for the massive size reached by some species, such as the blue whale (the largest animal to ever live), others are relatively small like the pygmy right whale which grows to about 20 feet <ref>  [http://www.acsonline.org/factpack/PygmyRightWhale.htm]American Cetacean Society website</ref>.  Though whales have  many traits in common with fish (including fins and tails) they are in fact [[mammal|mammals]] and accordingly breath air and lactate. Whales have a number of remarkable [[adaptation|adaptations]] including:

Although whales are famed for the massive size reached by some species, such as the blue whale (the largest animal to ever live), others are relatively small like the pygmy right whale which grows to about 20 feet <ref>  [http://www.acsonline.org/factpack/PygmyRightWhale.htm]American Cetacean Society website</ref>.  Though whales have  many traits in common with fish (including fins and tails) they are [[classification system|classified]] as[[mammal|mammals]] under the [[Linnaean taxonomy]] classification system because they breath air and lactate. Whales have a number of remarkable features including:

* they decide when to breathe, rather than breathing unconsciously

* they decide when to breathe, rather than breathing unconsciously

* they sleep 8 hours a day, yet need to be conscious to breathe

* they sleep 8 hours a day, yet need to be conscious to breathe

* they can communicate with each other by making remarkably loud noises

* they can communicate with each other by making remarkably loud noises

* these extraordinary noises can travel for miles under water

* these extraordinary noises can travel for miles under water

* the females nurse their calves while swimming underwater

* the females nurse their calves while swimming underwater

* the males have a unique cooling system for their internal reproductive organs

* the males have a unique cooling system for their internal reproductive organs

* some have two blow-holes, but others only have one

* some have two blow-holes, but others only have one

* the blow-holes pass air above water, yet resist intense pressure underwater

* the blow-holes pass air above water, yet resist intense pressure underwater

* they have massive brains, much larger than the brains of other mammals

* they have massive brains, much larger than the brains of other mammals

 

* Whales along with humans and horses are some of the few mammal species that do not possess [[baculum]] (penile bone)

* Whales along with humans and horses are some of the few mammal species that do not possess baculum

 

== Evolution and taxonomy ==

== Evolution and taxonomy ==