Are you curious about the difference between whales and sharks? Though they are both aquatic creatures, they have some distinct differences. Find out more in this blog post. Both whales and sharks belong to the group of animals known as fish, though there are several key distinctions between these two types of sea creatures. For one, whales are much larger than sharks – a fact that is most evident when comparing the size of their jaws.
Who is Whale?
Whale is a common name for various marine mammals of the infraorder Cetacea. The term whale sometimes refers to all cetaceans, but more often it excludes dolphins and porpoises, which belong to the suborder Odontoceti (toothed whales). Whales range in size from the pygmy sperm whale, which is a little over 3 m (10 ft) long and weighs about 600 kg (1,300 lb), to the blue whale, which is almost 30 m (100 ft) long and weighs about 150 metric tons (170 short tons). Whale can live up to an estimated 100 years old in the wild. Whale has been hunted since prehistoric times for their meat and oil.
Whale contribute significantly to the world economy, with the commercial capture of Whale estimated at between USD$200 million and 1 billion annually in recent years. Whale are also hunted by indigenous peoples for subsistence purposes and used for cultural experiences around the world. Whale are highly social creatures that often live in pods, which consist of a few individuals to up to several hundred. Despite their large size, Whale are some of the least visible animals on Earth due to living exclusively in the ocean.
Who is Shark?
Shark is a popular name for several types of fish. The most common type of Shark is the Great White Shark, which can be found in oceans around the world. Shark are large fish, and can grow up to 20 feet long. They are predators, and their diet consists mainly of other fish and marine mammals. Shark have a reputation for being dangerous to humans, but attacks are actually quite rare. Most Shark species are not aggressive towards humans, and will only attack if they feel threatened. If you are ever in the water with a Shark, it is important to stay calm and avoid making sudden movements. Shark are an essential part of the ocean ecosystem, and play an important role in maintaining the balance of marine life.
Difference between Whale and Shark
Whale and Shark are two animals that people are often confused about. Though they both live in water, there are many differences between them. Whale is a mammal while shark is a fish. Whale breathes air through their lungs while shark needs water to pass over gills for breathing. The skin of whale has thick layer of blubber for insulation from cold water whereas skin of shark is covered with tiny tooth like structures called dermal denticles. Whale is generally vegetarian whereas most the sharks are carnivores. Whale gives birth to live young ones which are nursed by milk whereas shark lays eggs. Thus, these were some of the major differences between whale and shark.
Conclusion
Although whales and sharks may look similar, they are actually quite different. Whales are mammals while sharks are fish. Sharks have to keep moving in order to breathe, whereas whales can take a breath and hold it for a long time. Sharks also have rows of sharp teeth while whales only have two teeth on their lower jaw. Finally, whale songs can be heard for miles underwater, while shark calls cannot be heard by humans.
