When you think of a mammal nursing its young, you may picture a dog nursing her puppies or a cat nursing her kittens. You may even imagine a calf getting milk from the mother cow. However, do you ever envision a baby whale nursing in the ocean? Just like the animals mentioned above, whales are mammals, too. So, a mother whale nurses her baby.
This brings up a basic and practical question: How do baby whales, or calves, drink milk underwater? Keep reading to find out how a mother whale is able to feed her baby underwater. Also, learn about the special nutrients in a whale’s milk, and find out how long whales nurse their young.
Drinking Milk Underwater
A baby whale starts nursing immediately after it’s born. The mother has what are called mammary slits. These are folds of skin that protect the feeding glands, or nipples, of a mother whale. The natural instincts of a whale calf, combined with scent, help it know where to nudge its mother when it’s hungry for milk.
Other mammal babies nurse by drawing the milk out through their mother’s nipples. However, instead of a calf sucking the milk out of its mother’s feeding glands, the mother injects the milk into her baby’s mouth. She is able to accomplish this by squeezing special muscles around her feeding glands. A baby whale can nurse without taking in water because it can curl its tongue into a tube-like shape. This shape fits with its mother’s feeding glands and only allows milk to go into the calf’s mouth.
When the baby is ready to nurse, the mother whale injects the milk directly into her calf’s mouth.
©Imagine Earth Photography/Shutterstock.com
Why Is a Mother’s Milk So Important to a Baby Whale?
The milk of a mother whale contains a lot of fat. In fact, some whale milk has 35% to 50% fat. This high-fat content is important to the survival of a baby whale. The fat supplies the calf with the energy it needs to continually move through the water with its mother.
A mother’s milk also helps the calf to develop a thick layer of blubber that will keep it warm in cold ocean waters. In addition, milk is important for the baby’s bone development, and it gives a calf the nutrients it needs to ensure a healthy immune system.
How Long Do Baby Whales Nurse?
Calves may continue to nurse even after they begin eating solid food.
©Travis Potter/Shutterstock.com
The answer to this question varies among whale species. A toothed whale may nurse her baby anywhere from 12-36 months. Alternatively, a bowhead whale nurses her baby for 6-12 months. A beluga whale calf nurses from its mother for 20-24 months. A humpback whale baby is weaned at around seven months when it begins to eat small fish and other sea creatures. However, a beluga whale baby starts to eat solid food at around 12-18 months old, but will continue to nurse up to 36 months.
Some female whales only reproduce every two years, while others reproduce every five years. This makes it possible for a mother whale to continue nursing her calf for an extended period of time. Keep in mind that even when the calf is able to eat small sea creatures, most baby whales continue to nurse as well. The nutrients of its mother’s milk, along with solid food, add to the development of a strong baby whale.
