Gray Whale   Gray Whale Facts Teaching Suggestions Photo: Caroline Armon Photo: Wayne Perryman Photo: Christopher Match Photo: Keith Jones Characteristics size weight body systems senses communication physiology other physical characteristics Life Cycle longevity birth and growth reproduction and young heredity parenting behavior Ecology habitat and range niche food enemies adaptations migration populations distribution ecosystems Conservation threats/human impacts habitat loss conservation status historic population size conservation efforts, etc.

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By Year 2013 2011 2010 2008 2006 2003 2002 Characteristics How did gray whales get their name? What is a gray whale's skin like? How big are gray whales? Do gray whales sing? Do gray whales sleep? How can I recognize a gray whale? How big are a gray whale's eyes? How long can a gray whale stay under water without coming up for air? Do gray whales have teeth? Are gray whales friendly? Why do gray whales have so much fat when they swim around a lot? How much fat does the gray whale really have? Life Cycle How long does a gray whale live? At what age do gray whales mate and breed? How long is the pregnancy of a gray whale mother? What do newborn calves look like? What do baby gray whales eat? Where are the baby grays born? What makes the lagoons such good nurseries? Why do mothers and calves remain in the shallow lagoons for 2-3 months? Are whales good mothers? Whales are mammals, so what happens when a baby whale is born underwater? When are gray whale calves born? How big are baby gray whales when they're born? Can baby whales swim right away? Ecology Food What do gray whales eat? How do gray whales eat? What are baleen plates? Behavioral Adaptations: Migration How fast does a gray whale travel during migration? Do all gray whales migrate? When do gray whales make their yearly migration? How do the whales know when to migrate? Why do the gray whales swim all the way down to Mexico to have their babies? When whales head south, where are they going? Do all the whales go at the same time? Why do gray whales migrate along the coast? How far from the coast do they usually travel? Do whales eat while in their winter breeding grounds? Do gray whales lose a lot of weight while in their breeding grounds? Conservation Are gray whales an endangered species? Is there just one population of gray whales in the world? What are a gray whales' enemies? How do humans harm gray whales and their habitat?