Subject: Re: # of chromosomes

• Messages sorted by: [ date ][ thread ][ subject ][ author ]
• Next message: n.patenaude@auckland.ac.nz: "Humpback behaviour, integument, diseases, calves"
• Previous message: Michael Williamson: "Education (fwd)"

From:          Larason@aol.com
Date:          Fri, 14 Mar 1997 05:16:10 -0500 (EST)
To:            n.patenaude@auckland.ac.nz, pita@whale.simmons.edu,
               krill@whale.simmons.edu
Subject:       # of chromosomes, squid consumption


    Could you please tell me the number of chromosomes that are found in
whales?  
Also, do you know how many squid are usually consumed in one day?
           Thanks,
            Marcia Larason

Dear Marcia,

there are 22 pairs of chromosomes in whales, so there are 44 chromosomes in total (humans 
have 23 pairs).

There are many different squid species and most cetaceans eat them as part of their diet, 
including the Sei whale, the pygmy and dwarf sperm whales, narwhal, beluga, pilot whale, 
killer whale, and all beaked whale species.  Most dolphin species also eat squid as part of 
their diet.  The sperm  feeds on the giant squid found in deep water and can measure 35 ft 
or more, but much of the sperm whale's diet is made up of several species of smaller squid.  
The number of squid eaten each day depends on the species of whale species and the species 
of squid that's being eaten.  For sperm whales, it is estimated that they eat about 3% of 
their body weight per day.  One 48 ft male sperm whale was found with 19 squid totalling 
more than 650 pounds in its stomach.



Nathalie Patenaude

 

• Next message: n.patenaude@auckland.ac.nz: "Humpback behaviour, integument, diseases, calves"
• Previous message: Michael Williamson: "Education (fwd)"