Argentina - wales & dolphins: December 2006
-
12.2006 Argentinien Wale Pinguine 01 12.2006 Argentinien Wale Pinguine 01
Our camp site for observation of baleen whales on the Valdés peninsula.
-
12.2006 Argentinien Wale Pinguine 02 12.2006 Argentinien Wale Pinguine 02
When they breathe, they exhale a cloud up to 4 meters high.
-
12.2006 Argentinien Wale Pinguine 03
12.2006 Argentinien Wale Pinguine 03
-
12.2006 Argentinien Wale Pinguine 04 12.2006 Argentinien Wale Pinguine 04
At birth, the animals weigh up to 2 tons and are 4 to 6 meters long. Adult animals are 12 to 16 meters long and weigh 30 to 50 tons.
-
12.2006 Argentinien Wale Pinguine 05 12.2006 Argentinien Wale Pinguine 05
Big head – making up approximately one third of the entire body. Broad and short pectoral fins. The body is normally black, sometimes with white, grey or brown spots.
-
12.2006 Argentinien Wale Pinguine 06
12.2006 Argentinien Wale Pinguine 06
-
12.2006 Argentinien Wale Pinguine 07 12.2006 Argentinien Wale Pinguine 07
Mouth: an enormous sieve. To feed, they swim slowly, their mouth open and their baleens (length of up to 2.5 meters) filter food out of the water.
-
12.2006 Argentinien Wale Pinguine 09 12.2006 Argentinien Wale Pinguine 09
The large rudder: The tail fin is horizontal, does not have a bony structure and is their main means of movement. They swim at a speed of between 0.5 and 4 km/h.
-
12.2006 Argentinien Wale Pinguine 08
12.2006 Argentinien Wale Pinguine 08
-
12.2006 Argentinien Wale Pinguine 10 12.2006 Argentinien Wale Pinguine 10
The cornea is grey, but looks white because it is populated by whale lice.
-
12.2006 Argentinien Wale Pinguine 11
12.2006 Argentinien Wale Pinguine 11
-
12.2006 Argentinien Wale Pinguine 12 12.2006 Argentinien Wale Pinguine 12
A unique cornea, which hardly changes during their lifetime – comparable to fingerprints for identification.
-
12.2006 Argentinien Wale Pinguine 13 12.2006 Argentinien Wale Pinguine 13
The skin is soft and smooth, the external layer continuously regenerating itself. The large amounts of fat underneath serves as isolation.
-
12.2006 Argentinien Wale Pinguine 14
12.2006 Argentinien Wale Pinguine 14
-
12.2006 Argentinien Wale Pinguine 15
12.2006 Argentinien Wale Pinguine 15
-
12.2006 Argentinien Wale Pinguine 16
12.2006 Argentinien Wale Pinguine 16
-
12.2006 Argentinien Wale Pinguine 17 12.2006 Argentinien Wale Pinguine 17
Magellan penguins
-
12.2006 Argentinien Wale Pinguine 18
12.2006 Argentinien Wale Pinguine 18
-
12.2006 Argentinien Wale Pinguine 19
12.2006 Argentinien Wale Pinguine 19
-
12.2006 Argentinien Wale Pinguine 20 12.2006 Argentinien Wale Pinguine 20
These birds cannot fly, but are excellent swimmers.
-
12.2006 Argentinien Wale Pinguine 21
12.2006 Argentinien Wale Pinguine 21
-
12.2006 Argentinien Wale Pinguine 22
12.2006 Argentinien Wale Pinguine 22
-
12.2006 Argentinien Wale Pinguine 23
12.2006 Argentinien Wale Pinguine 23
-
12.2006 Argentinien Wale Pinguine 24
12.2006 Argentinien Wale Pinguine 24
-
12.2006 Argentinien Wale Pinguine 25
12.2006 Argentinien Wale Pinguine 25
-
12.2006 Argentinien Wale Pinguine 26 12.2006 Argentinien Wale Pinguine 26
Spending most of their time with the care of their plumage.
-
12.2006 Argentinien Wale Pinguine 27
12.2006 Argentinien Wale Pinguine 27
-
12.2006 Argentinien Wale Pinguine 28 12.2006 Argentinien Wale Pinguine 28
They feed on marine animals and weigh 4 to 5 kg.
-
12.2006 Argentinien Wale Pinguine 29
12.2006 Argentinien Wale Pinguine 29