How are cetaceans different from fish?
Cetaceans are NOT fish. They are mammals – just like us. Mammals are air breathing animals. Most fish obtain oxygen from the water through their gills. Mammal babies grow inside their mother’s womb and are born alive. Most fish leave their mother as eggs. Female cetaceans, like all mammal mothers, give milk to their babies. They take good care of their young until they can survive on their own. Fish generally receive no food or care from their parents. The most obvious visible difference between cetaceans and fish is their tail. Fish have a vertical tail which they move side to side. Cetaceans have a horizontal tail or flukes which they move up and down. How are cetaceans different from other mammals? Cetaceans are aquatic mammals. They spend their entire life in water. Cetaceans come in many different shapes and sizes but they share important features that allow them to feed and reproduce in the water. Baby cetaceans are known as calves. Calves are born with soft flukes and fins. This
