British Sign Language Glossaries of Curriculum Terms

BSL Marine Species Glossary - Cetacean - definition

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Translation:

These animals live in the sea. Cetaceans are an order of marine mammals that includes all whales, dolphins, and porpoises. They have fins and a tail and can dive underwater. There are two main subgroups of cetaceans— toothed whales, such as Killer Whales (Orcas), dolphins, porpoises, and Sperm Whales, and baleen whales (filter-feeding whales) like the blue whale and humpback whale. The difference is that the second subgroup doesn't have teeth; instead, they have special plates which they use to scoop up and filter large amounts of plankton they feed on. 'Cetacean' is a Greek word that means 'large sea monster,' and some of these animals are massive! They're also highly intelligent and engage in complex social behaviours. You can learn more about whales and dolphins in our other description videos.

Cetacean - definition in International Sign Language