Diving and blood oxygen in the white whale

• Published in: Canadian Journal of Zoology
• Main Authors: Ridgway, S. H., Bowers, C. A., Miller, D., Schultz, M. L., Jacobs, C. A., Dooley, C. A.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1984
• Subjects: Animal Science and Zoology; Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics; Weddell; Weddell Seals; White whale
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z84-344; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/z84-344

White whales trained to dive on command in the open ocean remained submerged as long as 15 min 50 s and dove as deep as 647 m. Other than records of sperm whales entangled in deep sea cables, this is the deepest measured dive of any marine mammal. This whale's blood volume and estimated oxygen-carrying capacity are similar to those of Weddell seals and some other marine mammals known to be deep divers.