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The blue whale ( Balaenoptera musculus) is a marine mammal and a baleen whale. Reaching a maximum confirmed length of 29.9 meters (98 ft) and weighing up to 199 tonnes (196 long tons; 219 short tons), it is the largest animal known ever to have existed.
- B. musculus
- Balaenoptera
- Size and Weight
- Appearance
- Diet
- Habitat
- Geography
- Breeding
- Social Structure
- Threats
- Conservation Status
- Conservation Efforts
It is the largest member of the dolphin family. The largest recorded male killer whale was 32 feet in length and weighed 22,000 pounds. The largest recorded female was 28 feet in length and weighed 16,500 pounds. Adult male killer whales are larger than females. Depending on their ecotypes, killer whales’ sizes can vary significantly.
Killer whales are one of the most recognizable marine mammals, with their distinctive black body with a white underside. They have a gray patch called a “saddle” or a “cape” on the back, just behind the dorsal fin. Their distinctive coloring is a type of disruptive coloration, which is a pattern that obscures the outline of an animal by contradicti...
The diet of a killer whale depends on its population and region. They are an apex predator, meaning that they are at the top of the food chain. They are the only known predators of great white sharks. Killer whales feed on fish and squid-like species. They also prey on seals, sea birds, and other whale species, including those larger than themselve...
Killer whales can be found in a variety of habitats across the world, including both open seas and coastal waters.
Killer whales can be found in every ocean in the world, making them some of the most widely distributed whales and dolphins.
Killer whale reproduction patterns in the wild are difficult to study; so much remains unknown. Therefore, the majority of information known about killer whale reproduction comes from marine zoological parks. Female killer whales reach sexual maturity between 7 and 16 years old, while males reach sexual maturity between 10 and 17.5 years old and ty...
Killer whales are highly social creatures. They spend most of their lives swimming in groups of family members. While the size and nature of a group of killer whales vary depending on location, the tight relationship between the mother and her offspring has been commonly observed in long-term studies on killer whale populations. Across the globe, k...
The largest threats to killer whales include commercial hunting and culling to protect fisheries from killer whales. While live capture of killer whales for aquarium displays and marine parks no longer occurs in the United States, it continues to remain a threat globally. Other threats to killer whales include food limitations, chemical contaminant...
There is not enough data to classify the status of killer whales, according to the IUCN’s Red List. NOAA Fisheries estimates that there are around 50,000 killer whales globally. In recent decades, several populations of killer whales have declined and some populations have become endangered.
Conservation efforts that are critical to protecting the species include establishing critical habitat, setting protective regulations, and restoring prey stocks. All killer whale populations are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) of 1972, which made it illegal to hunt or harass marine mammals in the United States. NOAA Fisheri...
Blue whales are the largest animals ever known to have lived on Earth. These magnificent marine mammals rule the oceans at up to 100 feet long and upwards of 200 tons. Their tongues alone can...
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North Atlantic right whales (Eubalaena glacialis) are among the ocean's giants, with impressive dimensions that place them well within the ranks of large marine mammals. However, regarding the title of the "biggest whale," the blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) holds the crown.
Marine mammals are mammals that rely on marine (saltwater) ecosystems for their existence. They include animals such as cetaceans ( whales , dolphins and porpoises ), pinnipeds ( seals , sea lions and walruses ), sirenians ( manatees and dugongs ), sea otters and polar bears .
Jan 9, 2019 · By Greg Uyeno. published 9 January 2019. These baleen whales can reach up to 110 feet long. A blue whale spotted off the coast of Monterey, California.(Image credit: Chase Dekker/Shutterstock) The...
Dec 13, 2019 · Whales Are the Biggest Animals to Ever Exist—Why Aren’t They Bigger? New research highlights the role diet plays in dictating a cetacean’s size. Katherine J. Wu. Correspondent. December 13, 2019....
