Atlantic Bluefin Tuna

At this time there is not too much known about the blue whale's behavior. Blowing and diving patterns vary according to the whale's activity. The blue whale blows every ten to twenty seconds for a total of two to six minutes, when relaxed, and then dives. They usually stay submerged for five to twenty minutes, but can stay under for up to 40 minutes. Blue whale's usually dive to around 490 feet, but can go deeper if need be.

The smallest streamlined, black and white shark of the genus Squaliolus can grow to be up to 6 inches long and the female can grow to be up to 8 inches. They can grow up to 40 feet long. They are also known to weigh over 15 tons. The smallest sharks known at a full stage of growth may measure about 6 inches long and weigh about 1 ounce. Sharks live in many places throughout the ocean.

<http://www.padi.com/aware/get_involved/protsharks.asp> [2001, Oct. 29]. Year of Shark 'Hype", Says Expert. (2001). CNN. [Online].

Introduction Portrayed as the beast of the sea, the shark species is a cold blooded animal that shows great diversity in size. The largest of the sharks measure up to 13.7 m, while the smallest of the species range from 22-to-25 cm (Ellis 1976). Typically, these creatures of the sea have a fusiform body, that is composed of cartilage, which is capable of reducing drag and the amount of energy needed to swim (Ellis 1976). Their countershade coloration allows the species to blend in with both the dark depths and the light surfaces of the sea (Ellis 1976). These beautiful dwellers of the sea also possess rigid fins that are supported by cartilaginous rods.

Blue Whales The Blue whale is the largest creature of the sea, in fact, it is the largest creature known to man. Contrary to what most people think, even though Blue whales live in the sea, they are mammals. They breathe air, have their babies born alive and can live anywhere from 30 to 70 years. The Blue whale is a baleen whale, and instead of having teeth, Blue whales have around 300-400 baleen plates in their mouths. They fall under the category of the rorquals, which are the largest of the baleen family.

Introduction The blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) is a species of baleen whale known as the largest animal on Earth. They can grow to be over 100 feet long and can weigh up to 165 tons. Blue whales are found in all oceans and can occupy a wide variety of habitats, from pelagic environments to offshore environments (Clapham et al. 1999). Up until the 19th century, blue whales were generally immune from whaling.

Great whites only have 2-12 babies at one time unlike others who have hundreds. Great whites can live up to 60 years old! Great white sharks are phenomenal animals and but still are vulnerable to extinction. Do your part to kill of the rest of them before they kill you!

Fin whale is not a commonly seen whale. It is a rare species and said to be on the target of hunters according to a report of international whaling commission (IWC). Fin whale is hunted at a large number during last century. The specie is largely hunted by illegal ways which has resulted in its genocide to a great number. In 1906, it was reported to be 752000 fin whales in the region but now only 32,000 of them are really left!

But until the 1990’s, sharks weren’t hunted in such staggeringly large numbers. Shark finning--- chopping off the fins and discarding the rest--- is increasing worldwide to satisfy the demand of shark-fin soup (Verlecar et al. 1). A delicacy in China, a single bowl can cost up to $300. A watery broth filled with stringy stands of shark fin, the soup is not known for its taste (Tarshis 7).

2000: 2-29. Klimley, A.P, Anderson, S.D, Henderson, R.P, and P. Pyle. Great White Sharks: the biology of Carcharodon carcharias. New York: American Publishing Inc., 1996. Long, Douglas.