The Blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) is a marine mammal belonging to the suborder of baleen whales (called Mysticeti).It is the largest animal ever known to have existed. Long and slender, the blue whale's body can be various shades of bluish-grey dorsally and somewhat lighter underneath.[6] There are at least three distinct subspecies: B. m. musculus of the North Atlantic and North Pacific, B. m. intermedia of the Southern Ocean and B. m. brevicauda (also known as the pygmy blue whale) found in the Indian Ocean and South Pacific Ocean. B. m. indica, found in the Indian Ocean, may be another subspecies. As with other baleen whales, its diet consists almost exclusively of small crustaceans known as krill.
Ten Facts about Blue Whale
- The Blue Whale has a long, tapered and streamlined body. The head's length is 25% of the body length. The upper part of the head is U-shaped, flat and broad.
- From the lower jaw to the navel, there are 55-68 ventral grooves or pleats.
- The length of a full grown is maximum 33 meters or 110 feet and the weight is 181 metric tonnes or 200 short tons. The Blue Whales found in the Northern hemisphere are 75 to 80 feet long. Those in the Southern hemisphere can be 90 to 100 feet long.
- The Blue Whale may be located alone or in small groups, but most frequently as a pair. Rarely, a large group of 50 to 60 blue whales can be noticed.
- This mammal is a fast and strong swimmer.
- Generally, it moves at a speed of 12 mph. When it gets alarmed, it can accelerate upto 30 mph.
- The pregnancy period is of one year.
- The primary food of the Blue Whale is small and shrimp-like creatures. These are called Euphausiids or Krill. In summer, the Blue Whale satiates its hunger by eating just more than 4 tons per day.
- Offsprings can be born every 2 to 3 years. Just after birth, they weigh 3 tons and are 23-27 feet in length.
- The sound of a blue whale may reach 188 decibels, making it louder than a jet, which is 140 decibels.
