Blue+Whale

= Modern Animal = Blue whales were abundant in nearly all oceans on Earth, until whalers hunted them almost to extinction in the twentieth century. There remain only smaller concentrations in each of the North-Pacific, Antarctic, and Indian Ocean groups. Blue whales have adapted to the seas so that, as they are mammals, they don’t have to sleep, but rather, they take short naps, as if they do take long slumbers, they would drown. Blue whales have an expandable ventral glove, which is its lower jaw, and also a huge net, used to catch up to 50 tones of water full of krill.It then blows the water out, and filters the fish through baleen plates, keeping only the krill. Groups of Orcas, or killer whales, have been known to attack and kill baby blue whales.

To eat, blue whales have baleen plates, which are used to filter small shrimp-like krill they feed on. Baleen is a strong, yet flexible material made out of keratin, the same protein that is also in our nails and hair. Blue whales have about 320 pairs of black baleen plates with dark gray bristles in the blue whale's jaws (The tongue weighs 3.8 tones). Blue whales use vocalizations to communicate with other whales. Since they are underwater, and water is denser than air, they transfer sound faster and longer than in air. Blue whales are the loudest animals on Earth; their calls reaches levels up to 188 decibels(Jet -> 140, Human -> 70). This low-frequency whistle can be heard for hundreds of miles. Being so big, blue whales have an extremely large fluke (tail), which allows it to propel itself through the water at a decent speed, which can be about 30 miles per hour, to escape dangerous situations.

Habitat
Blue whales are found mostly in cold and temperate waters, and prefer deep ocean waters to coastal waters. Blue whales inhabit almost every ocean worldwide, except for polar seas. These whales can be found in the Icelandic and Celtic Marine Ecosystem, Southern Caribbean Sea, and Sea of Cortez Global 200 Ecoregions. Approximately 2000 blue whales live off the California Coast and migrate to Mexico. The population of blue whales severely depleted throughout all the major oceans of the world due to commercial whaling, which ended in 1964. Blue whales have to compete with other animals for their food (krill), including whale sharks, manta rays, seals, penguins, squid, fish, and a few species of birds. Blue whales travel a lot, covering thousands of kilometres, and this is mainly between the tropics, where there are warmer, low altitude waters, which is also their winter breeding grounds, and the Arctic and Antarctic, where they feed in these cooler, high altitude grounds for 3-4 months, as there are a rich supply of krill and other food, which occur huge numbers in these polar waters.

When Blue whales migrate to their breeding grounds, where they mate and give birth, usually with the older and pregnant whales migrating first, and with the larger, older whales migrating furthest North. In this epic journey, they eat virtually nothing for at least four months, living on nothing but body reserves. This migration is vital to the breeding process as the migration to warmer waters is required for the young, as they only have a thin layer of blubber to keep them warm. Female whales give birth to single calf, each about 7 metres long and weighing 2.5 tones, after which they are suckled for seven months, following their mothers through the spring migration to the polar seas to feed once they are weaned.

Adaptations and Their Uses
Blue whales live in a vast, cold ocean, and like any other animal, they have been built to suit their environment.

Blue whales may look similar to fish, but they are mammals, and they need to breathe in air through lungs, which is why they have adapted so that they only take short naps, instead of long slumbers, and are unable to sleep. This adaptation was so as to make sure the whales could take rests underwater, and also, if they were to take long naps underwater, they would drown. The rest is needed for these large animals to be able to move around and hunt food, reproduce and survive.

Whales, unlike humans, have a think layer of blubber instead of skin, which keeps them warm in the cold blue seas. All the way back to the ancestors, they would have still been land mammals, and would only have to accustom to the moderate temperatures of the environment, and no matter how cold or how warm, they would still be able to cope with just skin and fur, but when they moved to the ocean, they had to cope with the cold of the ocean, and therefore developed blubber.

Blue whales, being mammals, developed mammary glands to feed their young, providing extended parental care for their young, which give them a better chance of making it to adulthood. This is significant as female whales can only give birth to one calf at a time. Mammary glands are glands developed by female mammals, which are used for feeding the young that mothers produce, right after they are born. This process is called weaning.

Blue whales are big, and to swim, they have a huge mammal fin, or a horizontal fin, which is called a fluke, which enables them to travel at about 30km/h, and even 40km/h to escape dangerous situations. These large, sideway fins, were adapted from the tails of the hippo-ancestors, which grew out and flattened out into a fan. These movement devices help blue whales, as they enable them to go out and hunt for food to survive and reproduce.

Finally, blue whales have developed ventral grooves on their lower jaw, giving them the ability to expand their mouths at a large scale, engulfing up to 50 tones of water full of krill. The whale then filters the water out through baleen plates, which would be the equivalent to human teeth, keeping only the krill, waiting to be swallowed. These feeding adaptations help these large animals, as they need to eat a lot to survive, but they would still need to be able to capture the food to eat; in this case, the krill.

Pressure
Blue whales were probably faced with many problems when migrating from land to water, and these pressures made it what it is today. Blue whales may have faced trouble in acquiring enough sleep to go through daily activities, as they needed to breathe constantly to survive, and this could have contributed to them developing the habit of sleeping in short intervals instead of long ones. The pressure of not getting enough sleep in total contributed to the habit of sleeping in short intervals, and this works, as sleep can be accumulated over many parts.

When blue whales initially moved into the ocean, their mammal skin and fur would not have been sufficient enough to keep them warm in the cold sea. This pressure would have led them to developing a layer of fat, the blubber, to keep them warm. Blubber can be referred to as the storage area for fat, and this layer of fat keeps blue whales warm enough to operate in such cold conditions, enabling them basic motor activities such as swimming and eating.

Blue whales are mammals, not fish, and have the ability to give birth to their young, although they can only give birth to one child at a time. Facing the challenge of only having one offspring per delivery, blue whales have to have a way to take care of their young even after birth, and this would be why they developed mammary glands to feed their young. The development of these parts would increase the fertility rate of the young produced, and this would be essential to increase the population.

Due to their enormous size, blue whales would have had trouble travelling in the water, and this would have led to the development of the huge flukes that they currently have, which enable them to travel at speeds around 30km/h. The hippo-ancestors were pressured into developing this way of transportation, since they would need to be able to move quickly in the ocean to hunt food, reproduce and survive.

Finally, blue whales, again, being so big, had to be able to support their own bodies, and this was why they developed ventral grooves, enabling them to catch huge amounts of krill and small fish at one go. This adaptation is useful for these large creatures, as they don’t need to use a lot of energy to catch their food, even if they need a lot each day. Blue whales can consume up to 40 million krill a day.

= Ancient Animal = Blue whales weren’t created the same as they are today; they had to have evolved from an ancient ancestor, but what could have caused these changes? Scientists believe that millions of years ago, whales used to be inhabited on land, in the form closely related to hippos, before moving into the sea about 60 million years ago. This movement into different environments may have been due to predators on land. Scientists predict that these hippo-like creatures evolved over time; their front legs turned to paddle-like flippers, their legs were lost, their tails grew out and widened to form flukes, and they developed blubber, to counter the cold. Their skulls also elongated and their nostrils also shifted up to the top of their skulls, which would have been to allow more easily breathing above the ocean. Lastly, since they would have to dive deep underwater to catch food, their bodies developed so that they could hold in more oxygen in their blood, had bigger lung capacities, and also had a bigger capacity of blood volume.

An ancestral fossil of these ‘gentle giants’ was found in Australia; more recent than those that were still inhibited on land, at around 25 million years ago. These ancestral species of whales were not like the peace loving giants of today, but were ferocious predators with menacing teeth, able to capture and kill large fish, possibility sharks or even other whales. The fossil found, discovered by a young surfer, was such a rare find that it was labeled as one of the most important marine mammal fossils ever found, and was said to ‘literally rewrite our understanding of the evolution of baleen whales’. Scientists believe that baleen whales evolved to consume small fish and krill after breaking up with a common ancestor with toothed whales about 40 million years ago. The fossil found was of an extinct species of whale called Janjucetus hunderi. These early forms of baleen whales lived in the coastal seas off the southeast coast of Australia about 25 million years ago. Although classified as baleen whales, Janjucetus did not have baleen, but instead had large teeth, for gripping and shredding pray. Unlike modern baleens, the Janjucetus did not feed in bulk, but used to hunt large, single prey animals, and were also raptorial predators.

Habitat
Janjucetus’ lived in the ocean, and lived in the same conditions as today’s blue whales, except that sea temperatures were colder back then; at about half of todays, which was 25 million years ago, and was also the time in which today’s Antarctica was formed. The oceans back then were probably abundant with marine life, as there were no human-caused pollutions, and this would mean that the Janjucetus had tones of large prey to feed on. Seeing as blue whales were abundant all around the world until whaling began, it would also be safe to assume that the seas back then also occupied numerous amounts of Janjucetus. Seeing as Janjucetus came from mammals, it would be safe to assume that they also gave birth to their young, and would have similar processes of migration to warmer seas, like their descendant, the blue whale, to give birth to their young, and back to colder seas to feed.

Adaptations and Their Uses
Little is known about Janjucetus’ as has only been one fossil ever found, which consist of an almost-complete skull, teeth, cervical vertebra, two ribs, and some other parts, and this means we can only assume and intellectually speculate their traits. Seeing as they are ancestors of blue whales, they would have similar traits, and this is true except for the fact that Janjucetus’ had large, sharp teeth, and had significantly smaller bodies.

Janjucetus’ had large, sharp teeth, unlike modern blue whales, which have baleen, and these were used to hunt for large prey. This was probably necessary as there was a lack of any significant predators, such as humans, which would lead to the majority of marine animals being large, and Janjucetus’ would have had to be able to hunt these other large creatures to survive and reproduce.

We also know that Janjucetus’ were significantly smaller that blue whales, at about only 3.5 metres in length, and also had a body more similar to dolphins. This could have been because, since the seas may have been filled with marine life back then, they had to adapt their sizes to match that of their limited environment and be able to move around more easily.

Seeing as Janjucetus’ are between the timeline of the original hippo-like ancestors and the modern blue whale, they would also have double nostrils, which would have been in the ancestors and are on modern blue whales. Also, their nostrils would have shifted up towards the top, but seeing as they are in between, their nostrils would have been somewhere in between their eyes. This shift in the nostrils’ position would have been to enable the Janjucetus’ to breathe more easily above the ocean surface.

Janjucetus’ were also mammals, and this would mean that they gave birth to their young, and probably had the ability to take care of their young after birth. This method is important as mammals can only produce one offspring at a time, and the process increases the chances of the young making it to adulthood.

Lastly, Janjucetus’ would have had flukes, as they had already adapted to the ocean by the time they came about. The flukes enabled Janjucetus’ to swim in the water, to gather food, and to escape predators. As Janjecetus’ were significantly smaller than today’s blue whales, it would also be safe to assume that they were a lot faster than blue whales today, and this would have given them an advantage in surviving in the crowded seas back then.

Pressure
Janjucetus ‘ had to adapt to the change in their habitat from land, where they were hippo-like animals, to the vast, cold ocean.

Janjucetus’ developed sharp teeth to be able to capture their prey, rip them apart, and consume them. The trait of having teeth was probably kept from their ancestors, and they adapted to make them sharper, to enable them to catch their prey, eat, survive and reproduce. There were probably a lot of fast-swimming fish back then, as this would also encourage the development of sharp teeth, which would let the Janjucetus’ catch their prey easily.

They were built in a small size, and probably became like this to be able to move swiftly through the water, as oceans back then were most likely based on survival of the fittest, meaning Janjucetus’ had to be able to escape dangerous situations, and be able to survive and reproduce. The small size could also be due to the lack of resources, as Janjucetus were probably not the strongest of marine animals, and would have only a limited range of prey.

Janjucetus’ are around the mid-point between the ancestors and blue whales, and their double nostrils were in the process of adapting to the environment. This adaptation movement was to enable the Janjucetus’ to breathe more easily above the ocean surface, as they were mammals, and needed to surface to take in oxygen; an adaptation already seen in blue whales.

Janjucetus’ could give birth to young, as they were originally mammals, and this meant they had to produce mammary glands to support their young, as they could only give birth once at a time, and the pressure here was the limit in their offspring production. Mammary glands let female blue whales to take care of their young after birth, giving them a better chance of making it to adulthood.

Finally, Janjucetus’ had flukes, which were developed from the tails of the hippo ancestors. These were developed as these migrated animals would have to be able to swim to survive, and the flukes enabled the developed Janjucetus’ to hunt food and escape predators. The reason that the flukes came from the tails instead of the hind feet may have been because it would have been easier to grow out and expand their tails rather than fusing the two hind feet together, flattening them, then widening them.

= Future Animal =

Let's call him... The Janjucetus Blue

Animals are in a constant state of evolution, and blue whales are not to be left out. It is predicted that the whole of earth would go into a desert state; meaning no oceans. This would mean the end of blue whales, or any marine life for that matter, but in that time frame, blue whales would have already evolved to cope with more recent changes in the earth’s climate, and environment. In 250 million years, Pangea Ultima would form; it is the result of the movement of tectonic plates, which used to form an entire landmass millions of years ago. The illustration to the right shows how the world will look like with the supercontinent Pangea Ultima. As you can see, there will be a vast part of it being ocean, and this would mean more space for marine animals to swim, evolve, and reproduce, without being hindered by spread out landmasses.

Habitat
In 250 million years, there will be more marine life, as humans see the consequences of their actions, and act to preserve the ecosystem, taking care of their fellow animals. There will be more space for the big blue whales to swim, as the landmasses would join to form Pangea Ultima, and leave a large amount of ocean untouched. As this is the case, the diversity of the ocean will be even greater, as all marine life can access almost anywhere around the world, and could spread like butter. This could mean either good or bad news for our blue whales, as they may face either new food, or new predators, although, with their huge sizes, new food would probably be the case. Scientists believe that in 200 million years, most life will go extinct, including humans.

Adaptations and Their Uses
If blue whales survived up to 250 million years later, it would evolve a lot to fit the ever-changing state of Earth.

Due to this change in biosphere, all animals would lose 85%-90% of their weight, and blue whales, if they survived, would shrink back to the size of their ancestor, the Janjucetus’. This change in size would be because future blue whales would have less food to eat, and would have to adapt their bodies to the lack of food. This small size would be an advantage as Blue Janjucetus’ will be able to swim fast again, and this is a favorable trait to have in such a competitive and vicious environment.

Blue whales would probably evolve their baleen back into teeth, as the marine ecosystem becomes more competitive for food, and would have to go out and chase to hunt their food. This adaptation would enable blue whales to catch their prey by clenching on to them with large, sharp teeth, as the marine ecosystem becomes more competitive, and many marine animals adapt to swim faster to escape predators.

It is not likely that blue whales will change any further, as its current adaptations such as its fluke, mammary glands, and blowholes are already adequate to support a mammal’s life underwater;

The fluke will be needed as blue whales use them to swim through the water, hunting food, and surviving and reproducing. Flukes are the adapted hind legs for marine mammals, and they are developed from the tails from when they were still in their hippo forms. The tails grew out, flattened, and widened to enable them to move. Flukes were developed as the legs that the ancestor hippos had were not sufficient in enabling them to move quickly enough in water to catch food.

Mammary glands are needed as blue whales are mammals, and can only reproduce one offspring at a time, and this practice of nursing the young after birth increases the chance of the young reaching adulthood. This method is useful, as it almost guarantees that the child makes it to adulthood, and guarantees the blue whale species are carried on, and seeing as they only reproduce one every birth, the method is quite important.

And finally, blowholes are a convenient evolution as they enable the blue whales to breathe more easily above the sea, as they are mammals and don’t have gills to breathe underwater. Blowholes are convenient for marine mammals as they are able to breathe more easily, when surfacing for oxygen, using these.

Pressure
Blue whales will be pressured into shrinking in size as the biosphere of earth goes down and there is less food for blue whales to eat, making them need to shrink to fit their feeding cycles. They may also shrink to be able to swim fast enough to escape predators, as smaller sizes would enable them to swim faster.

Blue whales would evolve sharp teeth to be able to hunt the scarce source of food left, as they will be able to clench on to the prey with their sharp teeth. They would be pressured into developing sharp teeth again as they shrink, and are not able to catch many small fish at a time, meaning they would have to hunt individual, big catches, to be able to sustain their livelihoods.

The rest of the pressures are similar to the current blue whale, so reasons will be repeated;

Blue whales developed flukes to be able to swim around in water, as they needed to hunt food to reproduce and survive, and that will not change. This would be because it is not likely that blue whales will migrate back to land, and would keep their marine movement abilities.

Blue whales developed mammary glands to nurse their young after birth, as they could only reproduce once offspring at a time, raising the need for that one offspring to make it to adulthood. This trait, as said before, rises the fertility rate, and the chance that born offspring make it to adulthood, which is pressured by the fact that blue whales can only reproduce one offspring at a time.

Lastly, blue whales shifted the position of their nostrils to the top of their skulls, for easier breathing above the ocean, as, being mammals, they have to breathe in air through their lungs. This trait is pressured into being by the fact the having their nostrils on the front of their faces, they would have to swim upwards to dive out of the water to be able to breathe in oxygen, which would waste a lot of energy and time.

Looking at these changes, it could be said that blue whales regress back to being their ancestors, the Janjucetus’. As such, the illustration of a Janjucetus will be used again.

= Bibliography =


 * "All about the Blue Whales on Nat Geo!" //Indian Television News, Interviews, Reviews, EPG and Videos//. Web. 24 June 2011. .
 * "APOD: 2007 September 22 - Pangea Ultima: Earth in 250 Million Years." //Astronomy Picture of the Day//. Web. 24 June 2011. .
 * "Blue Whale." //Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia//. Web. 24 June 2011. .
 * "Blue Whale-Blue Whale Habitat." //Blue Whale-Blue Whale (home)//. Web. 24 June 2011. .
 * "Blue Whale-Origins of Blue Whales." //Blue Whale-Blue Whale (home)//. Web. 24 June 2011. .
 * "Blue Whale-Predators of the Blue Whale." //Blue Whale-Blue Whale (home)//. Web. 24 June 2011. .
 * "Blue Whales." //Enchanted Learning//. Web. 25 June 2011. .
 * "Feeding of Blue Whale." //Classroom Redirect//. Web. 24 June 2011. .
 * "Janjucetus - Prehistoric Whale Janjucetus Characteristics, Behavior and Habitat." //Dinosaurs - Types, Behavior and Evolution of Dinosaurs//. Web. 24 June 2011. .
 * "Janjucetus Hunderi." //Palaeocritti - a Guide to Prehistoric Animals//. Web. 24 June 2011. .
 * "Janjucetus." //Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia//. Web. 24 June 2011. .
 * "Life on the Earth in 100 Million Years - English Pravda.ru." //English Pravda.ru: Russian News and Analysis//. Web. 24 June 2011. .
 * "Mammalodon." //Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia//. Web. 24 June 2011. .
 * "The Origin of Whale Baleen: Yet Another Problem for Darwinism #1." //CreationEvolutionDesign//. Web. 24 June 2011. .
 * "Whale Migration." //Exploring Whale Watching South Africa North America Asia Madagascar Australia Japan Europe White Whales, Beaked Whales, Dolphins, Pilot Whales and Killer Whales, Porpoises, River Dolphins, Amazon River Dolphin, Chinese River Dolphin Watching Whales in the World//. Web. 24 June 2011. .