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Whales are an order of marine mammals known as Cetacea, which also includes dolphins and porpoises. They are highly adapted to life in the ocean, with streamlined bodies, powerful tails for propulsion, and pectoral fins for steering. Whales range in size from the diminutive dwarf sperm whale, which can be as small as 9 feet long, to the colossal blue whale, which can reach lengths of over 100 feet and weigh as much as 200 tons. Whales are found worldwide and inhabit a diverse range of habitats, from shallow coastal waters to the deepest ocean trenches. They are warm-blooded animals and have a thick layer of blubber that helps them maintain their body temperature in cold water. Whales have complex social structures and communicate with each other using a variety of sounds, including clicks, whistles, and songs. As mammals, whales nurse their young with milk produced by the mother's mammary glands. They give birth to live young that are relatively well-developed compared to other marine animals. Whales have lungs and breathe air, but they can hold their breath for extended periods while diving deep into the ocean in search of food. As marine mammals, whales are a subcategory of mammals that live in the ocean. They are related to all of the terms mentioned: animals, mammals, marine mammals, and zoology. Whales fit into the hierarchy as part of the broader category of marine mammals, which is under the even broader category of mammals, which falls under the even broader category of animals. Zoology is the study of animals, including whales, and all of these categories are interconnected in a complex web of relationships that make up the natural world.