The Whale Quiz

Whales can live a long time. How long can the oldest whale species live?

• 100 years

• 200 years

• 50 years

• 75 years

Answer explanation

Bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus), denizens of Arctic seas, are known to live more than 200 years

What is the range in length of the whale species?

• from 5 feet to more than 100 feet

• from 10 feet to more than 120 feet

• from 15 feet to more than 130 feet

Answer explanation

There are many kinds of whales, ranging in size from a 5-foot (1.5-m) harbor dolphin to a blue whale, which may reach a length of more than 100 feet (30 m). Whales are found in all seas as well as many coastal waters and the largest whales may weigh up to 140 tons.

What is the common name given to the two wings on a whale’s tail fin?

• sails

• flukes

• vestigial flaps

Answer explanation

Whales swim with their powerful tail, which ends in a pair of horizontal flukes that bend as the tail moves up and down. The tail and flukes drive this animal through the water at great speeds that are especially surprising for a whale’s huge size.

What is the name given to a method employed by many whales to find prey and locate obstacles in the water using sound waves?

• echolocation

• sonar

• doppler effect

Answer explanation

Echolocation is the process where a whale emits a series of clicks from its mouth or from organs in its head, the sound waves radiate out in the water. When the sound waves reach another animal or some obstacle, they bounce off and travel back to a whales ears, the whale calculates the time this takes to find the distance and direction of a target.

What is the behavior called when whales slap the water with their tails?

• dovetailing

• lobtailing

• breaching

Answer explanation

Whales sometimes slap the water with their tails and it produces a tremendous splash. This stunt is called lobtailing and experts make guesses that they do it for mating purposes, communication, a warning or just plain fun. No one really knows for sure.

Which of the following is a current threat to whale populations?

• Shipping

• Fishing

• Climate change

• All the options are correct

Answer explanation

Shipping lanes can be especially deadly to whales as high speeds are allowed that do not allow for strike avoidance. Fishing practices can result in vertical fishing lines that result in the entanglement of large whales, this can lead to severe injury if not death. Climate change is also a major threat as it alters the life cycles of whale’s main food sources and can decrease overall productivity.