Whales have lungs they use to get the oxygen they need by breathing air (like humans). But instead of breathing through their mouth, they breathe through their nostrils, called blowholes, located on top of their heads. They can easily breathe through the blowhole without lifting their entire head out of the water.

Did whales walk on land?

Although whales are expert swimmers and perfectly adapted to life underwater, these marine mammals once walked on four legs. Their land-dwelling ancestors lived about 50 million years ago.

How do whales die when beached?

Beaching occurs when whales swim into shallow water and get stuck, when they ride the waves onto a beach, or when the tide goes out, leaving the whale stranded on land or in shallow water. The whale’s own weight, usually supported by water, can crush its organs or cause it to suffocate.