The blue whale is not just the largest animal in the ocean—it’s the largest animal to have ever lived on Earth! These gentle giants are fascinating creatures that highlight the wonders of marine life. Let’s dive into the world of the blue whale and discover what makes it so extraordinary.

What Makes Blue Whales So Incredible?

  • Size Beyond Compare

    Blue whales can grow up to 100 feet (30 meters) long and weigh as much as 200 tons (181,437 kilograms). To put it in perspective, they’re even bigger than the largest dinosaurs! Their hearts alone can weigh as much as a car.

  • Tiny Food, Huge Appetite

    Despite their enormous size, blue whales feed on tiny shrimp-like creatures called krill. During feeding season, they can eat up to 16 tons of krill in a single day! They use baleen plates in their mouths to filter krill from huge mouthfuls of seawater.

  • Mammals of the Sea

    Blue whales are mammals, just like us. This means they breathe air, give live birth, and nurse their young. A baby blue whale, called a calf, is already 20 feet (6 meters) long at birth!

  • Singers of the Ocean

    Blue whales are known for their low-frequency songs, which can travel for hundreds of miles underwater. These songs help them communicate across the vast ocean, especially during migration.

  • World Travelers

    Blue whales are migratory animals, traveling thousands of miles between their feeding grounds in cold polar waters and their breeding grounds in warmer tropical seas.

Think about this...

How does being a mammal help the blue whale survive in the ocean?

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