Mammal · GBIF taxon 2440735
Blue Whale
Balaenoptera musculusAlso known as Sulphur-bottom Whale, Sibbald's Rorqual
Blue whales cruise the open ocean in solitary fashion or loose pairs, producing low-frequency vocalizations that travel hundreds of miles through deep water. These massive filter feeders dive to immense depths to engulf vast swarms of tiny krill, filtering thousands of gallons of sea water through fibrous baleen plates in a single gulp. Seasonal migrations take them from icy polar feeding grounds in summer to warm equatorial waters for winter breeding and calving.
MarineGiganticMigratory
—observations
—countries
—peak records
EndangeredConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXEndangeredRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Euphausiid Krill
- Copepods
Predators
- Orca
ThreatsShip strikes, gear entanglement, ocean noise, climate change
HabitatsPelagic ocean, deep offshore waters
Life span80–90 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyBalaenopteridae
- SpeciesBalaenoptera musculus
N. Atlantic S. Atlantic N. Pacific S. Pacific Indian Ocean Southern Ocean
Marine distribution — the ocean basins and seas where the species occurs.
Interaction riskHigh
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is high
- Maintain a safe vessel distance of at least 100 meters to avoid disturbing these ocean giants.
- What to notice
- Look for an enormous mottled blue-grey body, a tiny dorsal fin set far back, and a broad U-shaped head.
- Support conservation
- Maintain strict vessel approach distances, avoid crossing in front of their path, and cut propellers if they surface nearby.
Responsible observation
- Whale Watching: Keep boats at least 100 meters away and cut engines if whales approach.
- Listening: Use hydrophones to hear their powerful low-frequency calls miles away.
- Spotting: Look for massive 9-meter tall vertical spouts on flat ocean horizons.
Predator (c) Martín Acosta Albarracín, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Martín Acosta Albarracín · cc-by
Primary Prey (c) Krill666.jpg, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) Cephas, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Rorqual Relative Wikimedia Commons / Public domain · cc0
Close Relative (c) Christin Khan, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
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