16


Nature Notes Lots to enjoy in the Great Outdoors


FINS, FLUKES AND FLIPPERS


W


e’ve undoubtedly been lucky with the weather this year with summer extended well into September. Plenty of sun and calm conditions have meant we’ve all had time to get out


and many of us have been out on the water or enjoyed the views out to sea. Over the last few months it seems there’s been some welcome and unexpected sightings of porpoises, whales and dolphins around the South West coastline including a humpback whale in Lyme Bay and Minke whales in Torbay and off the coast around Plymouth.


But how much do you know about this group of aquatic mammals, known as cetaceans ? ● This group has about 90 recognised species including whales, dolphins and porpoises.


● They breathe through blowholes on the top of their heads. ● They use their tails (flukes) primarily for propulsion through the water. ● Pectoral fins are used for directional control and the dorsal fin for stability.


Cetaceans are broadly divided into 2 groups:


TOOTHED WHALES This includes the majority of whales and dolphins and they actively feed on prey like fish, squid and other sea creatures. They breathe through one blowhole on the top of their heads and use echolocation to hunt.


BALEEN WHALES These are generally larger than toothed whales and have baleen instead of teeth. They feed by filtering out fish and plankton from large mouthfuls of water. These whales have 2 exterior blowholes and the most common species in the UK is the Minke whale.


Bottlenose dolphin


Humpback whale


Porpoise or dolphin? Porpoises rarely do more than break the surface of water. Leaping animals are much more likely to be dolphins. Porpoises are generally smaller with small heads and spade shaped teeth whilst dolphins have conical shaped teeth.


Harbour porpoises Leaping dolphins Common dolphins Minke whale


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97  |  Page 98  |  Page 99  |  Page 100