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Do killer whales have fur or hair?
Mammals have hair, at least at some stage in their development. A whale’s smooth skin is an adaptation for swimming. A newborn calf often has a few sparse hairs around the rostrum that are lost within the first days of life.
Does a killer whale have fur feathers or skin?
When we think of whales, hair is not usually something that comes to mind – but most whales and dolphins have some hair when they are born, and certain species keep their hair throughout their life! Most whales have their hair follicles where land-mammals would have whiskers today.
What makes a killer whales fin curl?
The phenomenon is more common in captivity, but people have also seen wild orcas with curved fins. So, the cause cannot be captivity alone. Ultimately, what’s going on is the collagen in the dorsal fin is breaking down. In captivity, whales breach the surface more often, exposing their fins to the warmer air.
What is whale fur?
Whale fur was the priceless fur of the Bjondax whales, a large part of the Imperial Market. The planet Lankiveil was noted for its source of the fur. House Harkonnen, when banished, made its return by manipulation of the whale fur market.
Do whales fur?
Believe it or not, whales do have hair, although it’s only visible in some species. One of those is the humpback whale. The golfball-sized lumps you see on a humpback’s head each house a hair follicle.
What kind of coloration does a killer whale have?
The distinctive coloration of killer whales is a type of disruptive coloration, a pattern that obscures the outline of an animal by contradicting the animal’s body shape. In the flickering, filtered sunlight of the sea, other animals may not recognize a killer whale as a potential predator.
Why do killer whales have distinctive eye patches?
Conspicuous eye and saddle patches may help killer whales in groups coordinate social interactions, hunting, and swimming in formation. The distinctive coloration of killer whales is a type of disruptive coloration, a pattern that obscures the outline of an animal by contradicting the animal’s body shape.
What makes the dorsal fin of a killer whale?
Like the flukes, the dorsal fin is made of dense, fibrous connective tissue, without bones or cartilage. Dorsal fin size and shapes vary between ecotypes. The dorsal fin of a male killer whale is proportionately larger than that of a female. In adult males, the dorsal fin is tall and triangular.
What makes a killer whale a countershaded animal?
Killer whales are countershaded: the dorsal (top) surface is darker than the ventral (underneath) surface. When viewed from above, a countershaded animal blends in with the darker ocean depths. When viewed from below, the lighter belly surface blends in with the brighter sea surface.