What makes blue whales unique?
4 min read
Asked by: Terrell Blanco
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 long and upwards of 200 tons. Their tongues alone can weigh as much as an elephant. Their hearts, as much as an automobile.
What are 5 interesting facts about blue whales?
Consider the following.
- Blue Whales Can Grow More Than 100 Feet Long.
- They Can Weigh as Much as 30 Elephants.
- They Have Big Hearts.
- They Have Big Tongues, Too.
- They Have the Biggest Babies on Earth.
- They’re Unusually Loud.
- They Eat a Lot of Krill.
- They’re Pretty Fast.
What are 10 facts about blue whales?
Blue Whale Facts Overview
| Habitat: | Antarctic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, North & South Pacific Ocean, Indian Ocean |
|---|---|
| Weight: | 330,000 – 441,000 pounds (150 – 200 tonnes) |
| Color: | Deep Blue-Grey |
| Diet: | Krill (Shrimp-like crustaceans) |
| Predators: | No Natural Predators. However, there have been some Killer Whale attacks. |
What is a unique characteristic of a whale?
Their adaptations for aquatic life include a streamlined form, nearly hairless skin, and an insulating layer of blubber, which can be as thick as 28 in. (70 cm) in some Arctic species. The forelimbs of whales are modified into flippers, and the hind legs are reduced to internal vestiges.
Why blue whale is a rare animal?
Blue whales became endangered in 1970. The blue whale was driven to extinction by commercial whaling in the 1800s and early 1900s. Whaling is the hunting and killing of whales for their usable products such as their meat and blubber that can actually be turned into a type of oil.
How many hearts do blue whales have?
Oxygen is pumped around its enormous body by an equally massive, four-chambered heart. Weighing some 900kg – and the size of a Mini car – the blue whale’s heart beats once every 10 seconds, pumping 220 litres of blood through its body, and beats so loudly it can be heard from 3km away through sonar equipment.
Why are whales interesting?
Whales are the largest animals to have ever lived – even larger than any dinosaur! Blue whales are the largest animals on the planet; they are as long as three back-to-back school buses and have a heart the size of a small car.
What are the 4 characteristics of whales?
They are mammals, and they share the defining traits of that group: they breathe air, are warm-blooded, give live birth, suckle their young on milk, and have hair.
Are blue whales friendly?
In a nutshell, yes, blue whales are friendly animals. These animals feed almost exclusively in krill, so have no interest in humans and are not a threat to us.
What are 3 facts about whales?
12 Interesting Facts About Whales
- Blue Whales are the largest animals to have ever lived on planet earth. …
- Blue Whales aren’t a true blue in color. …
- Dolphins are whales, but whales aren’t dolphins. …
- Whales can store oxygen molecules in their bodies. …
- Gray whales can travel over 14,000 miles round trip.
Is a blue whale’s heart?
Check out these facts of the heart of the world’s largest creature, the Blue Whale. A blue whale’s heart is the biggest on the planet, weighing 400 pounds. That’s the weight of about 35 gallon paint cans. A blue whale’s heart is only 1% of its body weight – however the whale’s immense weight is supported by water.
What would happen if the blue whale went extinct?
Humans selectively fish out the largest species from Earth’s oceans, causing their populations to dwindle. If that weren’t alarming enough, the extinction of those animals—think great white shark, bluefin tuna, and blue whale—could ripple down the food chain and spell extinction for entire ecosystems.
How strong is a blue whale?
The blue whale is not only the largest animal in the world, weighing in at about 200 tons, but it is one of the most powerful as well. Blue whales can generate 600 horsepower, which is the same as many top-tier cars such as the Aston Martin DB11 and the Porsche 911 Turbo.
Can whales fart?
The short answer is yes; whales do fart, flatus, or pass gas, depending on how you like to phrase it. In fact, whales, dolphins, and porpoises are all marine mammals belonging to the cetacean species, and they are all known to fart.
Are blue whales fast or slow?
Blue whales can reach speeds of 50 kilometres per hour (31 mph) over short bursts, usually when interacting with other whales, but 20 kilometres per hour (12 mph) is a more typical traveling speed. When feeding, they slow down to 5 kilometres per hour (3.1 mph).
