31. Beluga whales are one of the most vocal of all whales.
Beluga whales are stocky cetaceans found in the Arctic and Subarctic seas. They’re also known as white whales due to their color. This feature, along with their unique shape, makes them very distinguishable from other whales. Their white shade also helps them to blend in with their icy habitats. They’re only about 13 to 20 feet long, so they’re also pretty small compared to other whales in the ocean. Beluga whales can dive 700 meters below the sea surface despite being slow swimmers. The dorsal fin on beluga whales is absent, which reduces surface area and thus preserves body heat. In addition, beluga whales have a substantial amount of blubber, which helps them survive in the freezing waters. Beluga whales generally live in small groups known as pods and are very vocal when communicating. When the sea freezes over in the Arctic Ocean, the whales will swim south to slightly warmer waters to continue eating fish. Beluga whales have an echolocation organ, known as the melon, at the front of their heads, which helps them find blowholes under sheet ice while hunting and swimming under extensive ice sheets. They survive on a diet of fish, crustaceans, and invertebrates.