How do gray whales get fresh water if they live in an ocean full of salt water?
Gray whales and all other whales get freshwater (drinking water) from their food. They will also get some of their drinking water from ocean water they swallow. The kidneys of whales extremely well developed and are able, to some extent, filter out the salt from the water. BACK TO WHALE INDEX OR ANSWER FILE Whale’s Blowhole – Received from Andrea Allen in Middle Creek School, West Virginia Q: Why do whales have A BLOWHOLE AND WHY DO THEY BLOW OUT OF IT? A: All cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises) breathe only through their blowholes, which are situated on or near the top of the head. Remember that whales, like humans are mammals and must breathe air not water. Blowholes are similar to nostrils in other mammals, serving as openings to the respiratory passages. Baleen whales (e.g. humpback and gray whales) have two blowholes side-by-side, while toothed whales (e.g. dolphins and sperm whales) have only one blowhole. Cetaceans cannot breathe through their mouths, because the trachea
