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.
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
