Whales are one of the most amazing creatures that live in the planet. They inhabit all oceans of the world.
Whales belong to the order cetacea, which means that they are mammals fully adapted to aquatic life. Like all cetaceans, whales are descendants of land-living animals which returned to water after living millions of years in land.
Most whales can grow to be extremely large. In fact, the Blue Whale is considered to be the largest animal in the world.
Whales are closely related to dolphins and porpoises. There are two types of whales that are identified by scientists, baleen whales and toothed whales, having each of these categories many sub species. You can easily identify which category a whale belongs based on its feeding and physical characteristics.
Whales have their own hierarchy in their groups that is very closely followed. They are excellent parents to their offspring and they are able to communicate with a variety of sounds. If you get the chance to closely observe whales you will quickly understand how they value their relationships with each other.
The physical design of the whale is very complex, and it is why they are able to survive in the water. They depend on their flippers and their dorsal fins to help them move in the water and to stay balanced. They also have blowholes at the top of them where they take in air. Then they can be submerged under the water for a period of time before they need to take another breath. This is a characteristic of whales that definitely separates them from the majority of aquatic life out there.