Blue Whales

Blue whales are the largest animals ever known to have lived on Earth. These magnificent marine mammals rule the oceans at up to 100 feet (30 meters) long and upwards of 200 tons (181 metric tons). Their tongues alone can weigh as much as an elephant.

Blue whales reach these mind-boggling dimensions on a diet composed nearly exclusively of tiny shrimplike animals called krill. During certain times of the year, a single adult blue whale consumes about 4 tons (3.6 metric tons) of krill a day.

Each blue whale's skin markings are unique, like fingerprints that distinguish one whale from another. Blue whales often appear to be a pale bluish-gray color, but they can also appear silvery gray or tan, depending on the light.

When a whale dives, the twin flukes of its tail leave a "flukeprint"—a smooth, raised, circular slick on the surface of the water. The flukeprints of blue whales are large and longlasting due to the force of the blue whales' deep dives. The smooth patch can linger on the surface of the ocean long after the whale is gone.

Blue whales are believed to have excellent hearing, which helps them navigate the dark ocean environment. A blue whale's age can be estimated by examining the waxlike plug in its ear after death. A set number of layers are added to the plug each year. Scientists estimate that the average lifespan of blue whales is 80 to 90 years.Blue whales' eyes are quite small in relation to their massive bodies—about the size of a grapefruit. They are thought to have limited eyesight, but little else is known about their vision.

A blue whale's blowhole is like a huge pair of nostrils, each large enough for a toddler to crawl in. When a whale surfaces, it exhales, then inhales enough air to fill a van, all in 1.5 seconds. The spray from a blue whale's blowhole can shoot as high as 30 feet (9 meters) into the air. The force of a blow can create a thunderous sound, audible from several miles away.

An adult blue whale's heart can weigh close to 2,000 pounds (900 kilograms). It beats only once every ten seconds and can be detected from two miles (three kilometres) away.

Blue whales can be found alone or in groups in every ocean on the planet, but their exact migratory patterns remain a mystery. Some populations appear to migrate very little, while others make incredible, annual trans-oceanic journeys from polar waters to equatorial waters. In the Northern Hemisphere, blue whales can be seen regularly in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and off the coasts of Monterey and Baja, California. The largest remaining population of blue whales is considered to be the eastern North Pacific population.

Fun Facts

• Blue whale lungs are the size of a closet.
• An adult blue whale can be twice the length of a city bus.
• Weight of an adult blue whale is equal to 2667 humans each weighing 150lb/70 kg.

• Height of an adult blue whale is equal to 17 humans with an average height of 5ft 6 in /1.7 m.

• A blue whale heart is the size of a Mini Cooper.

• Spray from a blowhole of a blue whale can shoot three stories high.

• 100 people could fit into the mouth of a blue whale.

• Tail flukes of a blue whale can be nearly as wide as a soccer goal.

• A blue whale eats 4 tons (3.6 metric tons) of krill a day.

• An infant blue whale can grow 9 lb (4 kg) an hour.