Gray whale

Gray whales are baleen whales (filter feeders). They often look
like crusty ocean rocks. This is because they are covered in
parasites. They have a hump and a ridge of sharp bumps along
their backs. Gray whales can reach a length of 15.3 m and
weigh up to 36 tonnes. They live between 50 and 70 years.

Gray whales are known as devil fish because of their aggressive Quick facts
behaviour when hunted. Other names include desert whale, Type: Mammal
gray back, and mussel digger. Weight: 36 tonnes
Diet: Omnivore
Gray whales travel in groups called pods and are one of the
Size: 12 - 15.3 m
animal kingdom's greatest migrators. Some gray whales travel
Group name: Pod
12,500 miles from their summer home in Alaskan waters to the
Mexican coast. Gray whales can also be found in the seas near
Korea. They stay close to the shore and feed in shallow water.

One of the best places in the world to see gray whales with their calves is in the Gulf of California’s San
Ignacio Lagoon. The water is calm and warm, making it a safe place for young whales, free from predators
like orcas (killer whales).

Questions

1. What is a parasite?
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2. Underline the correct answer in brackets: Gray whales feed in (deep/shallow) water.
3. Why are gray whales sometimes called 'devil fish'?
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4. If a whale travels 12,500 miles in one trip, how far will it travel in three trips? _________________ miles
5. What is a group of whales called? _______________________________________________________
6. What is an omnivore? ________________________________________________________________
7. Name a predator of the gray whale.
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© Primary Leap Ltd. 2014 www.primaryleap.co.uk - Primary Resources

 Score
8
07-01-03-131-s

Name: Subject: Themes - Mammals

Date: Sheet: Gray whale

8. Choose an animal off the endangered species list below and write about it. Think about where it lives
and why it is endangered. Is it hunted or is its habitat being destroyed? What sort of things could you
do to protect it?

Asian Elephant, Blue Whale, Orangutan, Chimpanzee, Giant Panda, Gorilla, Zebra, Leopard, Giraffe,
Snow Leopard, Sea Lion, Tiger.

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© Primary Leap Ltd. 2014 www.primaryleap.co.uk - Primary Resources