Today blue whales live in cold waters to stock up on food in preparation for mating season. However, their populations have become scarce and fragmented because of the mass whaling that occurred in the past. This majestic species lives in multiple oceans, including the Antarctic Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, and Pacific Ocean. Some whale researchers claim the number of deaths is likely much higher. However, estimates are closer to 5,000 – 12,000 whales since the whaling era ended. The whale hunting was so severe that it left the blue whale species nearly extinct.īefore whaling became popular and lucrative, between 200,000 and 300,000 blue whales existed in the world’s oceans. The whaling era was a lucrative business that caused mass deaths among various whale species between the 17 th – 20 th centuries. However, their overall populations have declined considerably since the whaling era. In the past, the blue whale was a very abundant species worldwide. The blue whale’s esophagus is so tiny that it cannot swallow an adult human. In addition, it cannot chew its food and break it down into smaller pieces making it problematic to consume large prey. The blue whale’s esophagus is too tiny to consume more significant food sources. It swallows its prey after removing the excess water.Īs previously mentioned, this marine mammal can only consume small prey despite being such a vast animal. The blue whale then pushes the excess water out with its tongue while the krill stays trapped in the bristles. ![]() The blue whale filter feeds works by opening its mouth while it swims towards a large swarm of krill to capture as many krill as possible in its mouth. It enables the blue whale to consume small prey while filtering out larger objects they cannot easily swallow.Įssentially, filter-feeding prevents larger objects from passing through the small holes. Nevertheless, blue whales also consume other small ocean creatures, like copepods, which they ingest while eating krill.īlue whales are primarily found in areas with high concentrations of krill, like the Arctic Ocean, to maintain their diet.īecause blue whale does not have teeth, they cannot grab their prey or chew their food.Īs a result, they use a method known as “ filter-feeding” to obtain their target.įilter-feeding involves sifting swarms or groups of krill from the water using their bristles. ![]() When it comes to diet, blue whales primarily consume krill. It allows the blue whale to capture its prey while allowing water to move freely in and out of its mouth. The baleen plates have bristles that act like a fence or net. Instead, it relies on its baleen plates to capture its prey. The blue whale’s flippers only measure about 12% of the whale’s entire length.īecause the blue whale is a baleen whale, it has no teeth. They also have flippers for steering that are relatively short compared to the rest of their body. The blue whale has a tiny triangular dorsal fin compared to the larger dorsal fin of many other whale species. It allows them to swim up to 25 miles per hour or more when they feel threatened (average speed is closer to 5 mph).įrom an overhead position, the blue whale’s oval-shaped body resembles that of a submarine but with flippers and flukes. In rare circumstances, some giant blue whales weigh over 150 tons.Įven though they are massive animals, their body is relatively slim and streamlined for speed and long-distance travel. When they dive back under the water, the water’s color and the sun’s light make these marine mammals look a deeper blue than they are.Īs stated earlier, when fully matured, an enormous blue whale grows over 100 ft. However, when they are at the water’s surface, the blue whale appears to be a grayish blue. Physical Appearance and Anatomical Characteristicsīlue whales are known for their deep blue color. Killer whales often go after a young defenseless whale rather than adults when attacking them.īlue whales typically travel through the ocean without worrying about other animals or humans attacking them.Īs a result, blue whales are apex predators, which means they do not have any primary predators. However, these attacks appear to be rare and seldom successful. ![]() Other than humans that hunted blue whales during the whaling era, the only known predator is killer whales. The blue whale’s large size means they rarely ever get attacked. People and other animals can hear a blue whale call several miles away and far below the ocean’s surface.ĭespite being the largest animal on earth, the blue whale’s primary diet consists of krill, a small aquatic life that resembles tiny shrimp. In addition to the blue whale’s massive size, it is one of the loudest animals. They are also the most prominent animal, growing up to 100 ft. These marine mammals are part of the baleen whale (Mysticeti) suborder. The blue whale (scientifically referred to as Balaenoptera musculus) is a large marine mammal.
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