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Baby Beluga Whale, Shedd Aquarium, Chicago, United States
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The whale is also colloquially known as the Sea Canary on account of its high-pitched squeaks, squeals, clucks and whistles. A Japanese researcher says he taught a beluga to "talk" by using these sounds to identify three different objects, offering hope that humans may one day be able to communicate effectively with sea mammals.
Description
Male belugas are larger than females. Males can reach 5.5 metres (18 ft) long, while females grow to 4.1 metres (13 ft). Males weigh between 1,100 and 1,600 kilograms (2,400 and 3,500 lb) while females weigh between 700 and 1,200 kilograms (1,500 and 2,600 lb). This is larger than most dolphins, but is smaller than most other toothed whales.
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