Clapham, Phil. Right whales; natural history & conservation.CLAPHAM, Phil. Right whales right whale, name for whales of the family Balaenidae. They were so named by whalers, who for centuries considered them "the right whales" to hunt, because they float when killed and because they yield enormous quantities of oil and of baleen. Baleen, or whalebone, is the substance forming the fringed, triangular plates that hang from the roof of the whale's mouth and serve as a filter for plankton. It commanded such a high price in the 19th cent.; natural history & conservation. (World Life Library.) Voyageur. 72p. illus. bibliog. index. c2004. 0-89658-657-X. $16.95. JSA Right whales were given their name because they were the "right" whales to hunt, due to their habits: they stay near the coast, they are slow moving, and they don't sink when killed because of their large amount of blubber. Clapham, a zoologist, has researched whales for years and he fills his book with many fascinating facts about the whales' anatomy (a tongue weighs a ton), sex life, characteristics and possible demise. Filled with beautiful photos and easy-to-read prose, this book is a good addition to any library. Nola Theiss Theiss, river: see Tisza., Sanibel, FL J--Recommended for junior high school students. The contents are of particular interest to young adolescent and their teachers. S--Recommended for senior high school students. A--Recommended for advanced students and adults. This code help librarian and teachers working in high schools where there are honors and advanced placement students. This also will help extend KLIATT's usefulness in public libraries. |
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