Translations:Beluga whale/8/en

Several anatomical features suit life in cold, ice-associated habitats. A thick blubber layer can account for as much as about 40 percent of body mass. Instead of a projecting dorsal fin, the animal has a tough dorsal ridge, reducing the obstruction presented when it swims beneath ice. Unlike most cetaceans, a beluga's cervical vertebrae are not fused; it can turn and nod its head without rotating its entire body. This mobility is useful in shallow water, among ice, and while feeding near the seafloor.