The Blue Whale

Other Names:Sulfur-bottom, Sibbald's Rorqual, and Great Northern Rorqual

Habitat: Offshore and occasionally inshore

Status: Endangered

Population: c.6,000-14,000

Threats: Unknown

Group Size: 1-2, sometimes larger gatherings at feeding grounds

Fin Position: Far behind center

Newborns: c.23' (7 m), c.2.5 tons

Adults: 78¼' - 88½' (24-27 m), 100 - 120 tons

Diet: Krill or other crustaceans

Baleen: 270 - 395 plates each side

Description  

  • Dorsal fin:

    • -some fins moderately falcate
    -tips may be rounded or pointed
    -some fins almost triangular
    -tiny, stubby dorsal fin (variable) located three-quarters of way along back

    Flukes:
    -broad flukes, up to one-quarter of body length
    -slight notch in middle
    -slightly concave or straight trailing edges

    Flippers:
    -pointed tips may be lighter than rest of flippers
    -long, slender flippers, up to one-seventh of body length

    Head:
    -raised splashguard in front of blowholes
    -black baleen plates
    -longest baleen plates may be 39 in (1 m) long
    -throat grooves

    Head (from above):
    -2 distinct blowholes
    -flat rostrum
    -broad, U-shaped head
    -single longitudinal ridge runs from blowholes to near tip of snout

    Other characteristics:
    -broad, flattened head
    -large splashguard
    -variable pale gray or white mottling, mainly behind head
    -pale blue-gray body color (variable)
    -extremely thick tail stock
    -long, streamlined body
    -underside may be covered in tiny algae, so may appear yellowish, especially in polar waters
    -pale blue-gray or white undersides
    -55 - 88 throat grooves, usually end at or behind naval
    -both sides of mouth uniformly blue-gray

    The blue whale is the largest mammal in the world.They can grow up to 31 meters in length and weighs up to 84 tons. The calves can drink up to 600 litres of milk a day and they double their weight in one week!

    The blue whales get their names from their blue-grey color. The blue whale is a deep ocean whale that often swims in group or schools of usually twenty or more. Also in the groups, there are usually both sexes.

    Blue whales are known for their low frequency moans and calls which are low in pitch and have a deep sound. It is believed that the sounds can travel up to thousands of kilometers.

    This page was created by Jessica S.

    I created this page when I was participating in The Galveston Bay Project for Girls.

    Last updated 6/24/99

    Click me to go home.