Cetaceans Animals in the order cetaceans include whales, dolphins and porpoises. There are two groups of cetaceans: toothed whales and baleen whales Whales live in the ocean like fish, but they are mammals. Males are called bulls, females cows and a young whale are called a calf. The two horizontal "wings" on the end of a whale's tail are called flukes.
When a whale swims, the flukes push against the water in an up and down motion to propel the whale. To stay warm, whales have a thick layer of fat around their body called blubber. It helps to keep the heat inside the body from escaping.
Many whales are endangered, largely due to hunting. People used the oil from the blubber of whales for all sorts of items. Whale oil was used for soap, shampoo, detergent, lipstick, margarine, cooking fats, ice cream, crayons, paints, polishes, linoleum, machine lubricants and for candles and lamps. Baleen plates were used for whip handles, riding crops, shoehorns, umbrella ribs, bristles for brushes, watch springs, store shutters, fans, fishing rods, corsets, hoop skirts and tea trays. Whale meat was used for fertilizer, animal fodder, canned dog and cat food, and food for some cultures.
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