What are the features of tooth whales?

Whales are commonly seen in the frigid seas of the Arctic. You must have seen pictures of whales or movie about them, and y will agree that they are most impressive. There are actually two types of whales - the toothed whales and the baleen whale both of which are found in the Arctic Circle. 

Toothed whales have teeth in the upper and lower jaw! With which they seize their prey. They feed on all manner of marine animals including squid and fish, including squid, fish, as well.

Why are baleen whales different from toothed whales?

Baleen whales are in the same family as their cousins the toothed whales, but they have baleens instead of teeth. Hundreds of long baleen plates grow down on either side from the roof of their mouths. Popularly called ‘whalebones’, baleens are actually flexible strips of keratin, the same substance that is found in human hair and fingernails. The baleen plates are edged with hairy fibres that create a sieve to strain prey like knit, plankton, and other small organisms from water.
The whale takes a mouthful of water containing its prey, closes its mouth, and forces the water out between the baleen plates with its tonge. The food is trapped and swallowed. Unlike teeth, baleen continues to grow throughout a whale’s life, as the ends are always wearing out.

Another difference between these two kinds’ whales is that baleen whales are generally large animals. They are not predators. This means that they do not go hunting for the food. In contrast, toothed whales are active predators, usually moving in pods to find prey, which they grasp with their teeth and swallow whole. 

Which are the countries of the Arctic?

There is no Arctic continent or landmass - there is only the Arctic Ocean that is bounded by the coasts of three continents - Europe, Asia and North America. 

The Arctic Circle passes through seven countries that have a considerable portion of land within the Arctic Circle. The countries are the United States of America, Greenland, Canada, Russia, Norway, Sweden, and Finland. Of these, Russia has by far the largest area. Iceland has a tiny region - less than one square km - inside the Arctic Circle. 

All these countries, except for Finland and Sweden, which do not have an Arctic coastline, face each other directly across the Arctic Ocean. 

Some other areas within the Arctic Circle include the Lapland province in Finland, Yukon, the Northwest Territories, and part of Nunavut in Canada. Davis Strait in the Atlantic Ocean, the Island of Grimsey, which is part of Iceland, and the Greenland and Norwegian Seas in the Atlantic Ocean are also within this circle. 

What are the features of toothed whales?

Whales are commonly seen in the frigid seas of the Arctic. You must have seen pictures of whales or movies about them, and you will agree that they are most impressive. There are actually two types of whales –

 the toothed whales and the baleen whales, both of which are found in the Arctic Circle.
Toothed whales have teeth in their upper and lower jaws with which they seize their prey. They feed on all manner of marine animals including squid and fish, as well as mammals.

 Whales must come up to the surface of the water to get air. The air is breathed in and out through their nostril or ‘blow- hole’, which is on their back. Toothed whales have only one blowhole. Sometimes, a whale will swim up to the surface of the water and quickly blow air out of its blowhole, making a fountain of watery mist, called a ‘blow’.

Toothed whales come in all sizes. The smallest are the dolphins and porpoises which are between six and ten feet in length, while the largest is the sperm whale, which can be up to sixty feet long. 

Which are the countries of the Arctic?

There is no Arctic continent or landmass - there is only the Arctic Ocean that is bounded by the coasts of three continents - Europe, Asia and North America.

The Arctic Circle passes through seven countries that have a considerable portion of land within the Arctic Circle. The countries are the United States of America, Greenland, Canada, Russia, Norway, Sweden, and Finland. Of these, Russia has by far the largest area. Iceland has a tiny region - less than one square km  inside the Arctic Circle.

 All these countries, except for Finland and Sweden, which do not have an Arctic coastline, face each other directly across the Arctic Ocean. Some other areas within the Arctic  Circle include the Lapland province in Finland, Yukon, the Northwest Territories, and part of Nunavut in Canada.

Davis Strait in the Atlantic Ocean, the Island of Grimsey, which is part of Ice-
land, and the Greenland and Norwegian Seas in the Atlantic Ocean are also within this circle.

What is a tundra climate?

The tundra is the coldest region in the World. Fierce Winds blow while snow and ice cover the ground even the sea freezes as the temperature gets colder. Sometimes, the strong winds create ‘white outs’ when the snow blows so much that it is hard to see! Whiteouts last for days. The tundra has a short summer that lasts from May to July. During the summer the temperature only rises to about 50 degrees Fahrenheit. The average yearly temperature is only 10 to 20 degree Fahrenheit.
There is very little rainfall or snowfall in a tundra climate less than 10 inches of precipitation yearly. So in fact, the tundra is drier than many of the world’s hottest deserts!