Whale Anatomy Worksheet
Explore the unique anatomical features of whales, including their adaptations for aquatic life, respiratory system, and skeletal structure.
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Whale Anatomy Worksheet
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Read each question carefully and answer to the best of your ability. Use complete sentences for short answer questions.
1. Which of the following is NOT an adaptation that allows whales to thrive in an aquatic environment?
Blubber for insulation
Gills for breathing underwater
Streamlined body shape
Blowhole for breathing air
2. What is the primary function of baleen plates in baleen whales?
Grinding food
Filtering small organisms from water
Defense against predators
Producing sounds for communication
3. Whales are mammals, and unlike fish, they breathe air using .
4. The powerful tail fin of a whale is called a , which propels them through water.
5. Describe how a whale's circulatory system is adapted for deep dives and long periods underwater.
6. All whales have teeth.
True
False
7. The blowhole of a whale is homologous to the nostrils of terrestrial mammals.
True
False
8. Observe the whale skeleton below. Identify and label two features that show its mammalian ancestry, despite its aquatic adaptations.
Feature 1:
Feature 2: