Are whales mammals?

Whales generally refer to whales, which are mainly divided into two suborders: baleen whales and toothed whales. There are few species of baleen whales, but they are huge. At present, the smallest known species are more than 6 meters long, and the body shape of toothed whales is quite different. The smallest species is only about 3 minutes long, and the largest one is more than 20 meters. Let's take a look at whether the whale is a mammal.

Are whales mammals?

Whales are mammals. Whales belong to the chordate phylum, vertebrate subphylum, mammal subclass, marine mammals, about 80 species, living in oceans and rivers, except a few live in fresh water, the others inhabit the ocean, note that whales do not belong to fish.

What are the ancestors of whales?

The ancestors of whales are most likely to be terrestrial hoofed animals from North America, Europe and Asia-the family Cephalidae, whose members are as small as domestic dogs and as tall as bears, but many animals have evolved from small to large, so cetaceans may have evolved from small middle claws. It is speculated that these small teeth, middle claws fishing in shallow waters, gradually transformed into amphibious life, and then in the long process of evolution into today's whales and dolphins.

What kind of food do whales eat?

Whales generally feed on molluscs, fish and ephemerals, and some species can also prey on seals and seals. Every once in a while, whales have to breathe. They usually swim from high-latitude cold water to low-latitude hot water to give birth in winter, and then swim back to high-latitude cold water to hunt in summer. Due to environmental degradation and massive human hunting, whale members, especially some large members, are widely hunted because of their high economic value, and many cetaceans are on the verge of extinction.