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- During evolution, blowholes migrated to the top of the head, which facilitates breathing at the water surface. Whales cannot breathe through their mouth because, unlike terrestrial mammals, their digestive system and respiratory system are not connected. The blowhole leads to the nasopharynx, or nasal duct.
baleinesendirect.org/en/discover/life-of-whales/physiology/respiratory-system/
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As whales reach the water surface to breathe, they forcefully expel air through the blowhole. The exhalation is released into the comparably lower-pressure, colder atmosphere, and any water vapor condenses.
Aug 26, 2021 · The location of their “nose”, the blowhole, on the top of their head allows them to exchange breathing air efficiently during the sometimes brief surfacing. But how does the blowhole of whales and dolphins actually get on top of the head? Two scientists from the University of Washington and Duke University also thought about this question.
Mar 18, 2008 · Nasal Drift in Early Whales Whales breathed with more ease when they no longer had to lift a snout above water. The nostrils migrated upward toward the top of their head, as ancient whales spent more time immersed in the water. Blowholes help to distinguish modern forms of whales.
Aug 5, 2021 · Cetacean experts have long puzzled over how the nasal passage switches during embryonic and fetal development from a palate-parallel pathway to an angled orientation terminating in a blowhole.
May 13, 2024 · Millions of years ago, whales weren't ocean giants, but land dwellers. In fact, their closest living relative is the hippopotamus, hinting at their remarkable transformation over time. This AnimalWised article explores the incredible evolutionary journey of whales and how they transitioned from land to the ocean giants we know today.
Both baleen and toothed whales breathe through blowholes--the whale’s version of nostrils. The telltale spouts that are formed on the surface occur when whales expel warm air that meets colder air on the surface and condenses into small water droplets. (Andrew Russell, Flickr)
