Characteristics Of Gray Whales

Gray whales are a part of the Baleen Whale family, baleen whales have two blowholes, while toothed whales only have one. Gray whales have rough and short baleen, have no dorsal fin, and only have two to five ventral grooves on the lower jaw. Like many marine animals, gray whales also migrate seasonally. The shape of the gray whales’ torso is the reason why they can dive through water easily and without having the “drag down” feeling. They also have blubbers that can warm them up until the time to migrate. Another adaptation of the gray whales is that they change their feeding styles in order to survive through the climate change and other changes. They usually take a 22,000 kilometers long round-trip journey every year, which is also the longest migration of the mammals.

They breed and give birth in the warmer tropical lagoon areas that are along the west coast of Baja California and Mexico.

Their feeding usually occur in the summer due to the long hours of sunlight, which creates much food for them to eat. Without these food, the gray whales cannot survive their long journey of migration. Gray whales migrate because they cannot find as much food and give birth to their babies that cannot survive in the cold water, therefore they migrate to the areas with warmer water. Gray whales were once on the list of endangered species, but were removed in 1993. Although they are removed from the list, the gray whales in the Western Pacific near Japan are endangered. There is also a treaty, called the International Whaling Treaty that banned the taking of gray whales, which help increased the number of the gray whales throughout the years. Gray whales still need protection from human because it is possible for them to become extinct without any

protections.