Creature Feature: the Blue Whale

Want to learn some fun facts about the blue whale? Keep reading to learn more!

• Being the largest animal in the world, blue whales typically weigh around 200,000 to 300,00 pounds.

  • Dinosaurs did not even reach this size; a blue whale weighs about 20 times heavier than a T-rex.

• Their average length is around 75-85 feet long.

https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/2019/2/record-setting-anatomy-of-the-blue-whale-a-look-inside-the-largest-animal?fbclid=IwAR2qstoGlqvDf0f5AfKj3H5c81756yg94pUELhT2i5emBue5hiRmlK30clU

Size Comparison:

One blue whale is as long as...

• 1 Boeing 737

• 3 double-decker buses

• 5 African elephants

• 11 Smart Cars

• 17 humans

One blue whale is as heavy as...

• 4 Boeing 737s

• 15 double-decker buses

• 40 African elephants

• 270 Smart Cars

• 3,333 humans

More Fun Facts:

• Breeding in the winter and feeding in summer, the blue whale travels thousands of miles each year.

• Even with its massive size, the blue whale feeds off of primarily small creatures such as krill.

  • They can hold one ton of krill in their stomach at a time, and they require four tons of krill per day.

• Blue whales have been found in every ocean except for the Arctic Ocean.

• These whales also rank the loudest animal on Earth, being even louder than many jet engines.

  • Their calls often reach around 180 decibels, and a jet reaches 140 decibels.

• In general, whales appear at the top of the food chain, making them extremely significant to the marine environment.

• During the 20th century, blue whales became targeted by whalers. Nevertheless, in 1966, commercial whaling became prohibited.

  • Their current status is “endangered”.

• Blue whales often live around 80-90 years.

References:

Dimery, R. (2019, February 18). The record-setting anatomy of the Blue Whale: A look inside the largest animal in the world. Guinness World Records. Retrieved August 16, 2022, from https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/2019/2/record-setting-anatomy-of-the-blue-whale-a-look-inside-the-largest-animal?fbclid=IwAR2qstoGlqvDf0f5AfKj3H5c81756yg94pUELhT2i5emBue5hiRmlK30clU

Fisheries, N. O. A. A. (2022, July 21). Blue Whale. NOAA. Retrieved August 16, 2022, from https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/blue-whale#:~:text=Where%20They%20Live-,Blue%20whales%20are%20found%20in%20all%20oceans%20except%20the%20Arctic,might%20not%20migrate%20at%20all

World Wildlife Fund. (n.d.). Blue Whale. WWF. Retrieved August 16, 2022, from https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/blue-whale