They're wild , they're wacky and they always have a whale of a good time. Whales, dolphins and porpoises belong to the same order of marine mammals called cetaceans. Cetaceans are warm-blooded (just like humans), but they spend their whole lives in water and live in family groups called pods.

Did you know there are more than 70 species of whales, dolphins and porpoises living in the world's oceans? From a 30 metre/100-foot blue whale all the way down to a "tiny" 2 metre/6-foot dolphin, cetaceans come in all shapes and sizes. And, they take center stage when they come to the surface. Whales and dolphins are known for their breaching, spouting and tail-slapping behavior. But they're also great singers and talkers, too. Some whales, like humpbacks, sing beautiful tunes underwater. Blue whales make long distance calls with low frequency bursts of sound. And others, like orca whales and dolphins, communicate with clicks and squeaks.

Thousands of years ago whales and dolphins were hunted for food, clothing and oil. Sadly, many were hunted to extinction. But when underwater heroes like you decided they needed protection, many countries of the world put laws in place to keep whales and dolphins safe. For example, in 1972 the Marine Mammal Protection Act was born in the United Sates. Since then it's been illegal to hunt, kill or harass marine mammals in US waters.