Yes, whales do have belly buttons.
Whales, dolphins, and porpoises are all born with belly buttons.
Whales are marine mammals, and like “almost” all mammals, one of the characteristics they share in common with land mammals is giving birth to live young.
The belly button is what is left after the baby whale losses its umbilical cord (aka birth cord), which is attached to the abdomen of the newborn baby whale.
During a whale’s gestation period (the period between conception and birth), the umbilical cord is connected to the placenta and the baby whale’s stomach.
Depending on the species of whale the average gestation period can last anywhere from 10 – 17 months.
The umbilical cord plays a vital role in the health of the unborn baby whale as it transfers oxygenated, nutrient-rich blood to the fetus while also transferring nutrient-depleted blood back to the placenta and removing toxic waste.
This filtration system is similar to humans (and most land mammals).
Therefore, it plays a significant role in a fetus’s development by ensuring the child gets the nutrition it needs to grow into a healthy newborn.
Most calves are born tail first to prevent the baby whale from drowning when giving birth.
This ensures that the baby whale’s head isn’t submerged underwater for an extended time and makes it easier for the baby to swim to the surface after birth.
After birth, the umbilical cord is separated from the baby whale and the mother allowing the baby whale to receive food externally.
The beginning of feeding a newborn baby whale generally involves the mother producing thick paste-like milk from her mammary glands, which the baby whale suckles from her nipple.
The thick milk consists mainly of fat packed full of nutrients and can pass through the water without instantly breaking apart.
A baby whale may also create a seal around the mother’s nipple with its tongue to help prevent milk from unnecessarily passing through the water.
Regarding the amount of food a baby whale can eat, some baby whales have been recorded consuming up to 10% of their body weight in food daily; in fact, a baby blue whale can consume as much as 150 gallons of milk per day!
Depending on the whale species, a baby whale may continue to feed on its mother’s milk supply anywhere from 6 months to 2 years or until the child can entirely survive and hunt on its own without the need for its mother’s nutrient-rich milk.
Some children will continue to suckle away after the mother no longer produces milk.
They will not stop until they psychologically separate from their mother and their dependency on her.
Eventually, the baby whale will grow into an adult and repeat the process with their mating partner.
Depending on the species, most whales will reach sexual maturity between the ages of 5 – 15.
However, a few may reach sexual maturity at a later age.
As you can see, the belly button of a whale or human is a reminder of the baby’s time within the mother’s womb and its role in providing the child with the nutrients it needs to survive.
Conclusion
The belly button (formed after the baby’s umbilical cord is separated from its body) plays a vital role in the healthy development of an unborn baby.
During the mother’s pregnancy, the umbilical cord provides the baby with nutrients while also transporting pollutants out of the baby’s body.
Once the child is born, the umbilical cord is separated, and the remaining skin tissue is left as a belly button.
Most mammals, including whales, possess a belly button or scarring.
However, some species have less visible belly buttons than others.
Other Interesting Belly Button Facts
1. While most mammals give birth to their young, a small handful of mammals, such as the echidna and platypus, lay eggs instead of keeping their young in a womb.
The echidna possesses a pouch which she uses to carry her eggs around, while the platypus digs a hole to place her eggs in.
Because of this fact, echidna and platypi do not possess belly buttons.
2. echidna and platypus marsupials also lack a belly button.
While marsupials carry their young in the womb, they do not feed them through an umbilical cord as most mammals do.
Instead, their young feed on a yolk-like sack carried in the womb.
One fascinating aspect of marsupials is they typically have a brief pregnancy period which lasts 4 – 5 weeks on average.
Some of the most popular marsupials include koalas, kangaroos, and Tasmanian devils.
3. Although most mammals are fed nutrients through an umbilical cord and have their umbilical cord removed after birth, some mammals may have significantly less visible belly buttons or scaring as their healing process does a better job of closing up the whole that was left by their umbilical cord.
4. Before the 1970s, people were not allowed to show their belly buttons on television because it was considered inappropriate and risky.
5. Believe it or not, some people lack a belly button.
The absence of the belly button is caused by surgery in which the doctor pulls the skin over the belly button area after the surgery is completed rather than leaving the belly button in its prior physical shape.
6. In some cases, the belly button may be referred to as the surgery office because it is opened and used for surgical operations to fit cameras and other small equipment inside.
Since it is less likely to leave visible scarring after the operation, it is a preferred surgery method among sure doctors.