whale-evolution. Is a whale shark a mammal or a fish? About the Orca Orcas, or killer whales, are the largest of the dolphins and one of the world's most powerful predators. Just as the blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) is the largest living mammal*, the whale shark is the largest species of any fish, known to reach more than 40 feet in length. Yes, whales are mammals, however due to the fact that they live in the ocean these large animals are referred to as marine mammals. Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus) Description. whale is not a fish but transition, and fish has the whale … On this page you’ve discovered that dolphins ARE mammals. Is a whale a mammal? Marine mammals in the cetacean family include whales, dolphins, and porpoises. Like most mammals, they bear live … But the whale shark is a fish. Add to Favorites. Together these three distinct animal groups make up what is known as the cetacean species.. They feed in high latitudes and migrate to the tropics to breed and give birth. They are a diverse group of mammals with unique physical adaptations that allow them to thrive in the marine environment with extreme temperatures, depths, pressure, and darkness. Objective. Character Three The lower jaw in mammals is a single bone on either side. Fin whale, (Balaenoptera physalus), a slender baleen whale, second in size to the blue whale and distinguishable by its asymmetrical coloration. Like mammals, whales and dolphins breathe air through a pair of lungs, they are warm-blooded, their young drink milk, and they have hair (although very little). This is because dolphins have mammalian characteristics such as being warm blooded, and producing milk to feed their young. Whales are mammals and sharks are fishes. Often, seemingly minor features provide critical evidence to link animals that are highly specialized for their lifestyles (such as whales) with their less extreme-looking relatives. They are distributed throughout the world’s oceans and seas. Is a Dolphin a Mammal: Conclusion. Unlike whales, sharks are not mammals but belong to a group of cartilaginous fishes. This is because dolphins have mammalian characteristics such as being warm blooded, and producing milk to feed their young. Marine mammals are found in marine ecosystems around the globe. The first thing to notice on this evogram is that hippos are the closest living relatives of whales, but they are not the ancestors of whales. The smallest mammal is the Kitty's hog-nosed bat. Blue whales live in every one of the oceans of the world. It is a marine mammal which belongs to the baleen whale … Whales are a member of the cetacean family, and as such, despite being wholly water-resident, whales are mammals, not fish.There are only 83 species of cetaceans in the world organized into 14 families and two main subcategories: Toothed whales (Odontoceti, including killer whales, narwhals, dolphins, and porpoises) and baleen whales (Mysticeti, humpback whales, and rorquals). What makes a whale, which at first sight resembles a fish, a mammal? The whale eye is relatively small for its size, yet they do retain a good degree of eyesight. While ex whale Orca may become in future megalodon without fur. The blue whale is a type of mammal called a cetacean and is a type of baleen whale. Students will be able to construct an explanation for the anatomical similarities and differences among modern organisms and between modern and fossil organisms to infer evolutionary relationships. They hold their breath to dive underwater. A beaked whale for example has a small bulge sitting on top of its skull, whereas a sperm whale's head is filled up mainly with the melon. The only that has both of them within, is fish, and can be any time both - but heavy to be only 1 of them. Share. Actually, it isn't. Although whales are aquatic creatures, spending all their time in the sea, they are indeed mammals, just like us. During certain times of the year, a single adult blue whale consumes about 4 tons of krill a day. Though they often frequent cold, coastal waters, orcas can be found from the polar regions to the Equator.