Michael Molnar OF MARINE ANIMAL S LIFE CYCLES WHALES HUMPBACK
4 Life Cycles of Marine Animals Scientists believe that all life on Earth began in the ocean hundreds of millions of years ago Today thousands of different animal species live in and around the ocean No one knows exactly how many different species of marine animals there are hundreds of new species are discovered every year Although they share the same saltwater habitat all marine animals grow and change differently over time Each species has its own unique life cycle Life Cycles All living things have a life cycle An animal’s life cycle begins when it is born and is completed when it has young of its own During their life cycles different species grow and change in different ways Everything an animal does throughout its life cycle happens so that it can survive long enough to reproduce Without this circle of life all living things would become extinct The life cycles of marine animals can be as different as the animals themselves
5 Whales Once Walked On Land Millions of years ago whales were land animals Over millions of years their legs evolved into fins and they moved into the water The bones inside a whale’s fin still look like the hand of a land animal Humpback Whales Humpback whales are a large species of whale They have a unique life cycle that can take them halfway around the world Always on the move humpback whales must overcome many challenges to complete their life cycle Whales Are Mammals Whales are mammals All mammals are warm-blooded breathe air and feed milk to their young Living Together Humpback whales often travel together Mothers will always stay close to their young called calves and adults will sometimes hunt together By hunting together and protecting their calves humpback whales have a better chance of completing their life cycles Female humpback whales protect their young giving them a better chance to survive and complete their life cycle
