A pack of whales is not a common term used to describe a group of these majestic marine mammals. Instead, different species of whales are known to gather in various social groups, each with their own unique name. In this article, we will explore some of the most common group names for whales and what they mean.
Before we delve into the different group names, it’s essential to understand the various types of whales. There are two main types of whales: toothed and baleen. Toothed whales, such as killer whales, sperm whales, and dolphins, have teeth and hunt for their food. Baleen whales, such as humpback whales, blue whales, and gray whales, have baleen plates in their mouths and filter feed on plankton and small fish.
Now, let’s explore the different group names for whales:
- Pod A pod is the most common name for a group of whales. It is typically used to describe a small social group of toothed whales, such as dolphins, killer whales, or sperm whales. Pods can consist of just a few individuals or as many as 30-40 members. They are typically composed of females, their offspring, and sometimes one or two adult males.
- School The term school is typically used to describe a group of baleen whales, such as humpback or gray whales. These groups are often made up of mothers and calves, as well as juvenile whales. The name school is thought to derive from the way these whales swim in a straight line, one behind the other, like a school of fish.
- Gam A gam is a term used to describe a friendly meeting between two or more whale ships in the 19th century. When whalers encountered a pod of whales, they would signal other whaling ships in the area to come and join them, and this friendly gathering was called a gam.
- Herd The term herd is not commonly used to describe a group of whales. However, it is sometimes used to describe a group of beluga whales, which are a type of toothed whale. Belugas are known to gather in large groups, sometimes numbering in the hundreds, in shallow coastal areas during the summer months.
- Podium A podium is a term used to describe a group of killer whales. These groups are typically composed of three to five members, consisting of one female and several males. The name podium comes from the way these groups appear to stand on their tails in the water.
- Float A float is a term used to describe a group of sea otters. Although sea otters are not whales, they are often found in close proximity to whales and other marine mammals. Floats can consist of just a few sea otters or as many as 100 members.
- Raft The term raft is not commonly used to describe a group of whales. However, it is sometimes used to describe a group of sea lions or walruses, which are also marine mammals that can be found in close proximity to whales.
- Superpod A superpod is a term used to describe a large gathering of killer whales. These gatherings can consist of as many as 50-100 whales and are typically seen during the summer months in the waters off the coast of the Pacific Northwest.
In conclusion, while a pack of whales is not a common term used to describe a group of these marine mammals, there are various social groups of whales, each with their unique name. The most common term used to describe a group of whales is a pod, which is typically used to describe small social groups of toothed whales. Baleen whales, on the other hand, are often described as a school. Other terms, such as gam, herd, podium are also used to describe pack of whales.