Blue Whale
Balaenoptera musculus
Conservation Status
EndangeredMammalia · Cetacea · Balaenopteridae
About
The blue whale is a species of baleen whale and the largest marine mammal in the rorqual family Balaenopteridae. Reaching a maximum confirmed length of 29.9–30.5 m (98–100 ft) and weighing up to 190–200 t, it is the largest animal known to have ever existed. The blue whale's long and slender body can be of various shades of greyish-blue on its upper surface and somewhat lighter underneath. Four subspecies are recognized: B. m. musculus in the North Atlantic and North Pacific, B. m. intermedia in the Southern Ocean, B. m. brevicauda in the Indian Ocean and South Pacific Ocean, and B. m. indica in the Northern Indian Ocean. There is a population in the waters off Chile that may constitute a fifth subspecies.
Fun Fact
A blue whale's heart is the size of a small car, beats as slowly as 2 times per minute during a dive, and its aorta is wide enough for a human to crawl through.
Quick Facts
Habitat
Open oceans
Diet
Carnivore
Lifespan
80-90 years
Threats
- Genetic Bottleneck
- Ocean Acidification
- Shipping Traffic
- Small Population Size