Blubber

High school (ages 12+)
Animals & Nature

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/blubber

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the scientific name?Adipose tissue (general term); specific composition varies by species
2. What is the primary functions?Thermoregulation, buoyancy, energy reserve, hydrodynamic streamlining, potential osmoregulation
3. What is blubber and why do marine animals have it?Blubber is a thick layer of fat under the skin that keeps animals warm, helps them float, stores energy, and can even help them feel pressure in the water.
4. How does blubber keep marine animals warm in icy water?The fat in blubber conducts heat very slowly, and the blood vessels inside can close to keep heat in or open to let heat out, so the animal stays warm.

Thermoneutral Zone: The range of environmental temperatures where an animal can maintain its body temperature with minimal metabolic effort.
Vasoconstriction/Vasodilation: Narrowing or widening of blood vessels to control blood flow and heat exchange.
Homeostasis: The ability of an organism to maintain a stable internal environment despite external changes.