Blue whale
A species of Balaenoptera, Also known as Antarctic blue whale, Great northern rorqual, Sulphur-bottom whale Scientific name : Balaenoptera musculus Genus : Balaenoptera
Blue whale, A species of Balaenoptera
Also known as:
Antarctic blue whale, Great northern rorqual, Sulphur-bottom whale
Scientific name: Balaenoptera musculus
Genus: Balaenoptera
Content
Description People often ask General Info
Description
Like all whales, the blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) is actually a sea mammal with a fish-like body. This is the largest animal known to have ever existed on Earth, reaching a length of almost 30 m. It is an endangered species, with only 10,000–25,000 individuals living in oceans worldwide today – just 3-11% of the numbers estimated to have been living at the beginning of the 20th century.
People often ask
General Info
Lifespan
70-90 years
Diet
Blue whale mainly consumes krill and other small invertebrates, with an individual capable of ingesting more than 4 tonnes of krill daily. They utilize a unique filter-feeding system known as 'baleen plates' to efficiently capture their prey.
Appearance
The blue whale is the largest known animal species, with its elongated and slender body reaching lengths of up to 100 feet. Its skin is smooth with a mottled blue-grey color, featuring a paler underside. The blue whale is recognized by its small, falcate dorsal fin located towards the end of its back. Notably, females are generally larger than males. The species appears uniform, with no substantial appearance variations among subspecies.
Behavior
Blue whale typically lead solitary lives, primarily communicating through low-frequency sounds. Notably, they engage in 'lunge feeding', wherein they swiftly rise vertically from depth to consume enormous volumes of krill and small fish, then filter out the water. These creatures follow seasonally driven, long-distance migratory patterns, drawn by food abundance.
Population
Increasing
Scientific Classification
Phylum
Chordates Class
Mammals Order
Whales and dolphins Family
Rorquals Genus
Balaenoptera Species
Blue whale 
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