Hello, Adventurers! Welcome back to the Coastal Expeditions blog! If this is your first time visiting our blog, we’re happy to have you here. We are all about nature, adventure, and making the most out of the beautiful outdoors of South Carolina. If you enjoy all things hiking, paddling, kayaking, and spending time outdoors, you’ve come to the right place! Here on the blog, we dive deep into different habitats, excursions, conservation efforts, and nature programs. Our site is filled with interactive maps, destination guides, and educational resources. Since the weather is incredibly warm, we want to help you get out there and take advantage of all that the Lowcountry has to offer! We offer guided tours of the beautiful Lowcountry by kayak, paddleboard, ferry, boat, and private charter. We also have hands-on workshops taught by highly-trained guides on wilderness skills, birding, identifying native plants, sustainability, and camping. Anything you want to learn about, we teach! If you haven’t already, we encourage you to take a look around our site to learn more about our offerings. In our last post, we talked about Kiawah River, an island village in the Charleston countryside. Today, we’ll be turning our attention back to marine life to discuss some larger mammals– Whales! These fascinating aquatic creatures can be spotted off the South Carolina coast. If you are interested in learning more about whales, you’re in the right place! Let’s get started.
Whales are some of the largest mammals in the world, and they can be found in every ocean. They are an extremely diverse group, with 90 different species of whales that scientists know about. Whales are grouped within the infraorder Cetacea, which includes dolphins and porpoises. Generally, whales are divided into two groups: Baleen and toothed. Baleen is a substance made from a protein called keratin. These whales have plates made of baleen in their jaws, instead of teeth. Water is strained through the baleen, and the hairs on the baleen catch shrimp, plankton, and fish. As the name suggests, toothed whales have teeth rather than baleen. Toothed whales are able to catch larger fish or squid with their conical teeth. Baleen whales are generally larger than toothed whales, such as the blue whale, which is the largest animal in the world.
These fully aquatic creatures can range in size. For example, the Pygmy Right Whale ranges between 20 and 21 feet in length and can weigh anywhere from 6,610 to 7,720 pounds. The blue whale, the largest of the whale species and of all animals, can grow up to 98 feet in length and can weigh up to 200 tons, or more– That’s the weight of approximately 33 elephants! Although whales evolved from land-dwelling mammals millions of years ago, their closest relative today is the hippopotamus.
Generally, whales have long, torpedo-shaped bodies with two front flippers and one tail fin. Whales rely on the tail fin to propel through the water, while their flippers are used for steering. Their necks are non-flexible, meaning the whale cannot turn its head. This does not slow the whale down at all, though– They are much faster swimmers than seals. In fact, their skeletal anatomy allows for them to be speedy swimmers. Their streamlined bodies help them move through the water with ease as well as dive into the depths of the oceans, which is something they are quite good at. Whales are able to dive to great depths; The deepest recorded dive was nearly 1.9 miles underwater. Although whales are fully aquatic mammals, they breathe air just like humans do. They are unable to breathe underwater like fish. Instead, they breathe through a blowhole on the top of their head. First, the whale will expel air from the blowhole in a spout, before inhaling fresh air into its lungs. Strong muscles around the blowhole will then cover it, sealing it tightly so that water cannot get into the lungs. Sound familiar? Dolphins breathe the same way! Some whales are able to hold their breath for up to 90 minutes.
All whales are covered in a thick layer of blubber. Blubber is a layer of fat, or adipose tissue, under the skin of some marine animals, including whales, walruses, and seals. It covers the whale’s entire body except for their fins, flippers, and flukes. It is an important part of the whale’s anatomy, because it is used for a few different reasons. Blubber helps store energy, insulate heat, and increase buoyancy. Because the blubber stores energy such as proteins, fats, and other nutrients, this means that the whale can go for long periods without searching for food. This thick, oily layer also helps keep whales warm in icy waters, which is especially important for whales that live near the North or South Poles. Since mammals are warm-blooded, keeping a warm body temperature in cold water requires extra energy. To keep whales warm, the blood vessels within the blubber will constrict in cold water, thus reducing the flow of blood and reducing the energy needed to heat the body. Whales that are found in the Arctic and Antarctic regions can have blubber that is more than a foot thick! Additionally, blubber is less dense than the ocean water surrounding it, which helps the animals to naturally float.
Since whales dwell in every ocean, there are plenty of good places to spot them along the coasts of the United States. In the Atlantic Ocean, five species of whale can be found. These include the Fin Whale, the Humpback Whale, the Minke Whale, the North Atlantic Right Whale, and the Sei Whale. Currently, many whales are considered an endangered species. In fact, six of thirteen great whale species are endangered or vulnerable. It is estimated that at least 300,000 whales and dolphins are killed each year as a result of fisheries, while others die due to habitat loss. Whales are at the top of the food chain, which means they play a very important role in the health of the marine environment. Interestingly enough, whales also play a role in capturing carbon from the atmosphere. A great whale can capture an estimated 33 tons of CO2 on average!
These fascinating mammals are not spotted in abundance like dolphins are in the Lowcountry. However, it is still possible to see them. The North Atlantic Right Whale spends the summer months in New England waters to feed, but beginning in October, many pregnant females begin to migrate south, traveling more than 1,000 miles to warmer water. This makes the fall and winter months the most ideal times for whale watching in the Lowcountry. Sometimes, more than a dozen of these whales are spotted off the South Carolina coast! This is an especially unique opportunity, because there are as few as 450 of this species remaining– This makes them one of the rarest mammals in the world.
As you can see, whales are truly fascinating aquatic animals. Get out there and explore– You just might spot one! We hope that you found this article informative and helpful. As always, we thank you for reading and we hope to see you back on our blog soon! If you have any questions about our guided tours, reach out to us! At Coastal Expeditions, we are committed to introducing people to the wonders of the ecosystems of the Charleston area by providing guided tours and educational opportunities. If you’re looking to explore all that the Lowcountry has to offer, check out our offerings on our website to find the adventure which suits you best! We also offer kid-friendly tours as well as kids programs, camps, and kayak lessons. Our tours are led by knowledgeable, approachable naturalists and sea captains who are eager to answer your questions! Until next time, readers. Get out there and explore! Adventure awaits!
Offering Kayaks and Paddleboards
Take in the stunning beauty of local creeks and waters from one of our kayaks or SUPs. Walk-ups are welcome or call / text to book and we’ll be ready when you are. All gear and instruction provided.
Call or text 843.884.7684 to book.
If you really want to get a feel for the local history, identify the native wildlife, and get to special places, you'll need someone experienced to show you the way. We'll get you there.
Check out our St. Phillips Island & Beaufort tours.
Offering Kayaks and Paddleboards
Take in the stunning beauty of local creeks and waters from one of our kayaks or SUPs. Walk-ups are welcome or call / text to book and we’ll be ready when you are. All gear and instruction provided.
Call or text 843.884.7684 to book.
If you really want to get a feel for the local history, identify the native wildlife, and get to special places, you'll need someone experienced to show you the way. We'll get you there.
Check out our Shem Creek in Mount Pleasant tours.