Why Do Whales Breathe Air?

What Crafty Clover says in this video

Intro

Hey there, curious minds! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. Why do whales breathe air?

The Big Idea

A whale looks like a fish, but it is a mammal, like you. That means it has lungs, not gills, and it must come up to breathe air. It holds one big breath for many minutes, then returns for more.

The Whale Rises

Step one: the whale rises. When its air runs low, the whale swims up toward the surface. It can sense when it is time to go up.

Old Air Blasts Out

Step two: the blowhole opens, and old air blasts out. The warm breath shoots out and forms a misty spout. A whale can empty most of its lungs in a split second.

Fresh Air, Then Dive

Step three: fresh air rushes in, and the hole shuts for the dive. The whale takes a quick, deep breath. Then a tight flap closes the blowhole. Now it can dive, and the water stays out. A sperm whale can stay down for more than an hour!

A Closer Look

Let's take a closer look at how a whale breathes! Its lungs hold the air, like yours do. The blowhole is its nose, on the top of its head. And the water surface is where it must come to breathe.

Quick Facts

Quick facts! Whales are mammals, and mothers feed their calves milk. A sperm whale can dive for over an hour on one breath. Some whales and dolphins even rest with half the brain awake, so they can keep breathing. And if a whale is stranded on a beach, call local rescue. Don't push it alone.

Think Like a Scientist

Now, think like a scientist! Hold a normal breath for a few seconds, only as long as is comfortable. A whale can hold its breath for many minutes! Do not push yourself, just notice. Why would a nose on top beat a nose on the face? And what is the whale missing that a fish has?

Outro

A whale borrows the ocean but still belongs to the air. Science is amazing! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!