Changes

== Description ==

== Description ==

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.

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, or baleen, whales. The latter are cetaceans, mostly very large, whose teeth have been replaced by baleen (whalebone) to filter small prey from the water; they are what people generally think of when the word whale is used.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 [[classification system|classified]] as [[mammal|mammals]] under the [[Linnaean taxonomy]] classification system because they breathe air and lactate. Whales have a number of remarkable features 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 breathe 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

* 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]] (penile bone)

=== Taxonomy ===

=== Taxonomy ===

There are two kinds of whales: toothed whales of the suborder Odontoceti (which includes [[dolphins]] and [[porpoises]]), and Baleen whales of the suborder Mysticeti.

There are two kinds of whales: toothed whales of the suborder Odontoceti (which includes [[dolphins]] and [[porpoise]]s), and whalebone (baleen) whales of the suborder Mysticeti.

Toothed whales include:

Toothed whales include:

* [[Orca|Killer whales]]

* [[Orca|Killer whales]]

* [[Sperm whale]]s

* [[Sperm whale]]s

* [[Narwhale]]s

* [[Narwhal]]s

* [[Pilot whale]]s

* [[Pilot whale]]s