Whale Anatomy
Below is an external diagram of the Humpback Whale.
For a larger image, click the diagram.
The Humpback Whale is a baleen Whale with vertical throat grooves which allow it to glide along collecting food into its mouth. There are 10 species of baleen whales. Baleen whales are larger than the toothed whales.
Blow Holes – holes located on top of head, used for breathing and blowing sprays of water.
Baleen – huge sieve-like structure, used to catch large amounts of tiny krill.
Flukes – one half of the large tail.
Median notch – the indentation between the two flukes.
Eye – sight organs located on the head.
Pectoral Fin – the pair of small, wide, flat forelimbs that are used for swimming.
A diagram of a Sperm Whale is below. Sperm Whales are Toothed Whales which have teeth and feed on meat such as fish and squid.
Blowhole – the hole on the top of the head through which the whale breathes air.
Box-like head – the sperm whales head is shaped like a box .
Conical teeth – the sperm whale has huge, conical teeth in the lower jaw (they fit into sockets in the upper jaw).
Dark grey to black skin – the thick skin covers a thick layer of blubber (fat) .
Ear – hearing organs located behind the eyes.
Eye – sight organs located on the head.
Fluke – one half of the wide tail.
Pectoral Fin – the pair of small, wide, flat forelimbs that are used for swimming.
Median notch – the indentation between the two flukes.
Hump – the sperm whale has a small hump on its back .