Browse through the natural world from Rainforests to Deserts. Find out facts about animals from Komodo dragons to butterflies, from graceful dolphins to huge dinosaurs. All text and graphics are copyrighted by REMedia, or by third parties who are acknowledged within this web site. Whales, dolphins and porpoises are air-breathing animals that live in water. They are mammals, giving birth to live young.
Whales live in water for their whole lives.
Except in very exceptional circumstances, they do not come onto land. There are around 80 known species of whale, or cetacean as scientists call them. They range in size from the gigantic 100 foot blue whale down to some species of river dolphin that rarely exceed 4 feet in length. Blue whales can weigh up to 150 tons, while a small porpoise may weigh as little as 50 pounds. There may also be other ocean-dwelling species still undiscovered by man.