Tiny Whale

Introduction

The Tiny Whale (minima cete) is a species of whale that is native to the major oceans- the Antarctic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, and the Indian Ocean. They are a member of the Balaenopteridae family, along with the humpback whale, fin whale, Bryde’s whale, the sei whale, and the minke whale. They can be recognized by their sharp fins, small body, and blowhole.

The Tiny Whale originally evolved from the Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus) after they almost went extinct. The original species was rapidly losing its food source and being caught in fishing nets, subsequently dying. Because of this, the whale became smaller to consume smaller portions of food, began to eat vegetation rather than krill, and got sharp fins that allowed them to cut themselves loose from the nets.

Etymology

The word whale is derived from the Germanic word hwæl, meaning ‘whale’. The word tiny is an english word derived from the Old English word of tyne, meaning ‘very small’.

Habitat and Population

The Tiny Whale currently resides in most major oceans, which includes the Antarctic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, and the Indian Ocean. There are about 100,000 currently residing in the wild, with about 1,000 in captivity. They often live in groups referred to as ‘pods’, and the members will protect each other and help in the search for food. The Tiny Whale would be considered prey, and its primary predator is the Tiger Shark. The animals are mammals and therefore are not birthed from eggs, and the mothers can have up to two calves every three years.

History

The Tiny Whale is a species that replaced the Blue Whale evolutionarily, after the blue whale almost went extinct due to hunting, habitat loss, and other causes. Their blubber has been a specific reason for their being hunted. The Tiny Whale, along with several other species, are part of the family Balaenopteridae, which in turn is a part of the baleen whale suborder Mysticeti.

Evolution

The Tiny Whale is completely vegetarian, residing on a diet of seaweed and other vegetation. It has many features that allow it to live easier, such as sharp fins that allow them to cut themselves out of fishing nets, and a smaller body to stop them from needing so much food to survive.

Summary

The Tiny Whale (minima cete), a vegetarian species of baleen whale that evolved from the Blue whale, has many features that allow them to survive well in the wild, such as sharp fins and other remarkable traits.

Works Cited

NOAA. “Blue Whale.” NOAA, NOAA Fisheries, https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/blue-whale.

The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica. “Blue Whale.” Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc., 18 July 2019, https://www.britannica.com/animal/blue-whale.

“Whales, Dolphins, and Porpoises.” Whales, Dolphins, and Porpoises, WWF, https://wwf.panda.org/knowledge_hub/endangered_species/cetaceans/.