THE Blue Whale it is a mammal aquatic that stands out for being the biggest animal in the world, reaching an incredible 30 meters in length.
→ Habitat
This species is found in every ocean on the planet and, according to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN), the blue whale is absent only in some regional seas, such as the Mediterranean Sea, Sea of Okhotsk and Sea of Bering.
→ Blue Whale Classification
The blue whale, to the amazement of some, it's not a fish, but a mammal with adaptations to aquatic life. It belongs to the order Cetartiodactyla, family Balaenopteridae and genus Balaenopter.O scientific name of this species isBalaenoptera musculus.
→ Blue Whale Characteristics
The blue whale presents long and hydrodynamic body with blue-gray color and light spots, which can be used to identify individuals. On the underside of your body, there is a lighter color. In the skin of these whales, diatoms can also be found, which give these animals a brown appearance.
The blue whale's head is broad, U-shaped, and is approximately one-quarter the size of the animal's body. From the throat depart ventral folds, which extend to approximately half of the animal's body.
The blue whale has small pectoral fins, which correspond to about 10% of the total body length of this species. The dorsal fin is also relatively small and is located in the hindquarter of the animal's body. The caudal fin, in turn, is wide and with a thick caudal peduncle.
the blue whale has no teeth, but a structure that resembles a fringe, which guarantees the filtration of water and the removal of prey. When it comes to breathing, like all mammals, blue whales breathe through their lungs. These animals, therefore, need to go to the surface to breathe. During exhalation, the spray produced by the animal can form a column 6 to 12 meters long.
the whales show some differences between males and females, but which are not very evident. Usually the male is smaller than the female, which is also heavier. The largest whale ever recorded was a female of 33.6 meters in length.
The blue whale is the largest animal on the planet. Watch the comparison between her and other whales.
These animals usually live alone, in pairs or trios, being found in larger groups in the feeding and reproduction areas. Groups of more than 50 animals have been observed in these areas.
Blue whales have varied migration modes. During the feeding season, which extends from summer to early autumn, for example, many whales migrate to polar or subpolar waters. In the reproductive period, which extends from winter to spring, blue whales migrate to tropical and subtropical areas.
→ Blue Whale Feeding
the blue whale not a big predator. This mammal feeds on small animals such as small crustaceans, zooplankton and small fish and molluscs. They can feed both in surface area and at great depths.
In the Southern Hemisphere, the blue whale mainly consumes krill (name given to a set of invertebrate animals that resemble shrimp). It is estimated that a single whale can daily eat four tons of krill.
→ Blue whale reproduction and gestation
Blue whales sexual maturity at around 10 years of age. The offspring develops inside the mother's body, and gestation lasts from 11 to 12 months. The puppies are born with great size and weight, with about 7 meters in length and more than 2 tons.
The blue whale is a mammal that has been greatly threatened by hunting.
→ Blue Whale Threats
The blue whale, in the past, suffered extremely from hunting, which caused a great reduction in its population and a serious danger of extinction. For this reason, this animal became protected by law in the 1960s.
This species is currently protected, but it still faces threats, such as habitat changes and climate changes. This large animal is currently classified as “endangered” on the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species.
By Ma. Vanessa Sardinha dos Santos
