Cetacea


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	Another phenomena associated with many whales, especially the Blue Whale and the Humpback Whale, are the haunting songs they sing. Researchers are not sure why whales sing, although it is thought their singing is associated with breeding, and keeping in contact with each other over vast ocean distances. Click This Link To Hear A Sample Whales are the largest animals that have ever lived on earth, including the dinosaurs. The largest is the blue whale, which can grow to almost 100 feet in length, the height of a 9-story building. These enormous animals eat about 4 tons of tiny krill each day, obtained by filter feeding through their baleen. The smallest is the dwarf sperm whale which grows only to just over 8 feet long. Whales exhibit a number of unusual and characteristic behaviors -breaching, spyhopping, lobtailing and logging. Breaching is jumping high out of the water and then slapping the water as they reenter. Occasionally they twirl around while doing this spectacular move. In spyhopping the whale pokes its head out of the water and turns around, perhaps to look. Some whales also stick their tails out of the water, swing it around and then slap the water's surface with it. This is known as lobtailing. It may be done as a warming to the rest of the whale group, or pod, as a warming. Logging is resting on the surface of the water, with the tail hanging beneath. While floating motionless like this, part of the whale's head, dorsal fin and back are exposed. Cetaceans exhibit very strong social ties, with the strongest being between the mother and calf. A social group of whales is referred to as a pod. Mysticet (baleen whales) travel alone or in small pods, and Odontoceti (toothed whales, which include dolphins and porpoises) travel in large, frequently stable pods. These toothed whales also hunt their prey in groups, migrate together and share care of the young. The links below will take you to some great websites about cetaceans. The best sites to start for general information are marked with a star . If you have a site that you think should be listed, please email me. Official, Scientific & Governmental Sites Endangered Species Organizations Cetacea Conservation Groups Other Countries Cetacea Species Cetacea Observation & Eco-Tours Commercial & Research Facilities Miscellaneous Personal Websites Mass Extinction of Species The Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums The Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums is an international association representing marine life parks, aquariums, zoos, research facilities, and professional organizations dedicated to the highest standards of care for marine mammals and to their conservation in the wild through public education, scientific study, and wildlife presentations. Discovering Whales General information website with pages on different whale species. Marine Mammal Commission The Marine Mammal Commission is an independent agency of the U.S. Government, established under Title II of the Marine Mammal Protection Act. It was created to provide independent oversight of the marine mammal conservation policies and programs being carried out by the federal regulatory agencies. National Marine Mammal Laboratory: Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises General information on cetaceans NOAA's Office of Protected Species: Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises General information The Porpoise Page The Porpoise page is dedicated to providing useful and accurate information on porpoises. Ultimate Guide To Dolphins Discovery Channel website on dolphins. WDCS Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society WDCS, established in 1987, the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society is the world's most active charity dedicated to the conservation and welfare of all whales, dolphins and porpoises. Welcome To The Watery World Of Whales General information Whale Center of New England Their mission is to contribute to the conservation and protection of marine mammals and their habitats. WhaleNet Wheelock College interactive educational website that focuses on whales and marine research. Whales Online Whales-online is an information site dedicated to the conservation of whales, dolphins and porpoises in the Southern Hemisphere. Wild Animal Watch: Dolphins Scholastic website for educators on dolphins ICUN World Conservation Union The World Conservation Union is the world’s largest and most important conservation network. The Union brings together 82 States, 111 government agencies, more than 800 non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and some 10,000 scientists and experts from 181 countries in a unique worldwide partnership. The Union’s mission is to influence, encourage and assist societies throughout the world to conserve the integrity and diversity of nature and to ensure that any use of natural resources is equitable and ecologically sustainable. United Nations Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre The United Nations Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) is the biodiversity assessment and policy implementation arm of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the world's foremost intergovernmental environmental organization. US Fish & Wildlife Webpages on Endangered Species The American endangered species list maintained by the US Fish & Wildlife Service Word Conservation Union ICUN Red List of Endangered Species IUCN - The World Conservation Union, through its Species Survival Commission (SSC) has for four decades been assessing the conservation status of species, subspecies, varieties and even selected subpopulations on a global scale in order to highlight species threatened with extinction, and therefore promote their conservation. ANON -Act Now For Ocean Natives Dedicated to protecting whales and other cetacea in our oceans. American Cetacean Society The ACS protects whales, dolphins, porpoises and their habitats through public education , research grants and conservation actions. Founded in 1987, the American Cetacean Society is the oldest whale conservation group in the world. Cetacean Society International CSI is an all volunteer, non-profit conservation, education, and research organization based in the USA, with volunteer representatives in 26 countries around the world. The goal of the Cetacean Society International is to achieve on a global basis the "optimum utilization of cetacean resources" through benign utilization and the elimination of all killing and captive display of whales, dolphins, and porpoises. Save The Whales Save The Whales, founded in 1977, is dedicated to educating children and adults about marine mammals, their environment and their preservation. Surfers For Cetaceans Surfers For Cetaceans is a call to surfers everywhere in the world to take action on behalf of the whales and dolphins of the world, of Mother Ocean. The Oceania Project: Caring For Whales, Dolphins & The Oceans The Oceania Project, established in 1988, is a not-for-profit, research and education organization dedicated to raising awareness about Cetacea and the ocean environment. The Original Dolphin Project Founded on Earth Day 1970, for over 30 years The Dolphin Project has worked to stop the capture and confinement of dolphins worldwide. CANADA, BRITISH COLUMBIA Wild Whales A project of the Vancouver Aquarium's Marine Science Center. Focus on British Columbian whales. IRELAND Irish Dolphins.com Irish Dolphins.com is dedicated to giving accurate information about 'friendly' or sociable wild dolphins (and whales) around the coastal waters of Ireland. SCOTLAND Dolphins & Seals of the Moray Frith Website focusing on the marine mammals of the Moray Frith in the North Sea. BOTTLENOSE DOLPHINS: Seaworld Seaworld website that focuses on Bottlenose dolphins. HUMPBACK WHALES: Nature.org: Humpback whales ORCAS (KILLER WHALES): Seaworld Seaworld website that focuses on Orcas. PINK RIVER DOLPHIN: Pink River Dolphin Personal journal website about the Amazon River pink dolphins Aquatic Adventures Worldwide expeditions for swimming with whales and dolphins Whale Watch.com Commercial whale watching company out of Rhode Island. General information and links, excellent resource site for whale watching. Whale Watching Web Links to whale watching websites all over the world. A great whale watching site. Dolphins Plus Dolphins Plus is a dolphin research and education facility in Key Largo, Florida. Dolphins Plus houses 14 Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphins and 2 California Sea Lions. Dolphin Research Center The Dolphin Research Center, located in the Florida Keys, is not-for-profit research and facility, home to Atlantic Bottlenose dolphins and California sea lions. Aqua Thought Foundation Private research site dedicated to the exploration of human-dolphin interaction. Charlotte, The Vermont Whale Interesting website dealing with the bones of a whale found in a Vermont. Dolphins and Man......Equals? Online article by Regina Blackstock that examines dolphin intelligence. Earthtrust Hawaii's Marine Wildlife: Dolphins Educational website geared for HS and MS students. Marine Mammal Stranding Center Dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and release of marine mammals and sea turtles. NOAA's Office of Protected Species: Protect Dolphins Campaign NOAA Fisheries website -general information about dolphin protection for general public. Songs of the Whale Some excellent sound recordings Whale Songs Educational resource site with focus on whale songs. David's Whale & Dolphin Watch Personal website with very large collection of whale and dolphin photographs> William A. Levinson's Marine Mammals: Dolphins and Whales General information American Museum of Natural History Statement The IUCN Red List of Endangered Species Professor David Ulansey's Website -Mass Extinction Underway