Interesting Blue Whale Facts: 26-30. The spray from a blue whales blowhole can reach up to 3 metres! Can you imagine how long that is? As blue whales are forced to compete for food with fishermen, the population may stop growing or even decrease again. Their body is often pinkish-red in colour, and when they travel in a large enough mass, they make the ocean look pink from above. It can grow up to 100 feet and weigh up to 200 tons. Luckily, whaling is now illegal, but blue whales are still endangered and are now a protected animal. To feed, a blue whale just opens its mouth and swims towards a large group of krill. We hope you’ve enjoyed our facts about these giants of the ocean. Other Interesting Facts About Blue Whales. The Blue whale is the largest animal in the world. Another reason could be because the weightlessness of the water supports their bodies and lets them maintain such big proportions. The length of a blue whale is equivalent to a Boeing 737 or 3 double-decker buses. This was known as whaling and nearly left the blue whale extinct. Blue whales eat approximately 40,000,000 krill a day! Other than humans, the only natural predator’s blue whales have are a pack of hungry killer whales. All rights reserved. Like all mammals, blue whales are warm-blooded, breathe air and even have some hair on their bodies! In the Antarctic, blue whales have reportedly reached lengths of 110 feet, but most probably grow to between 80 and 90 feet long. Hot Water Bag During Pregnancy – Is It Safe to Use? Then it swallows the krill whole. The nostril is so big that a human baby can actually crawl through it. They also have small triangular dorsal fins to help them steer in the water. © 2010-2020 Parenting.FirstCry.com. There are two types of whales, the toothed whale and the baleen whale. Blue whales are known for their extremely large size – an average male weighs a huge 190,000 kgs (190 tonnes). They are larger than even the dinosaurs were. Awesome animal facts and information delivered direct to your inbox. It catches as many as possible and then pushes out the water whilst the krill are trapped inside the bristles. Its gigantic, slim shape looks a little bit like a submarine as it navigates the water below you. (It’s completely free, you can unsubscribe at any time, and we’ll never share your details.). The whale swims into a swarm of krill with its mouth wide open to collect as much krill as it can. A blue whale can swim up to 25 miles an hour when it needs to. Blue Whales have lungs that they use to breathe. These sea mammals are gentle giants and aren’t a threat to humans. Blue whales talk to each other using loud, low pitched whines and moans. They are known to stay submerged for periods up to 20 minutes when feeding and dive up to a depth of 500 meters. Their lungs can hold 5000 litres of air during dives. Under the ocean though, the colour of the water and sunlight make them appear a dark shade of blue, which is where they get their name from. Help the endangered blue whale by adopting one. The worldâs largest creature depends on some of the smallest for survival. If a blue whale sleeps as other mammals do, they will drown in the water deeply & may die due for suffocation. Then in mating season, they travel to warmer climates closer to the Equator such as the Gulf of Mexico and Costa Rica, to give birth in warm waters. There used to be thousands of blue whales It's estimated that there were over 225,000 Antarctic blue whales before their exploitation - today there are less than 3,000. Humpback Whales are also big, weighing up to 45 tons. The blue whale is the largest known creature to ever inhabit the planet. They have to surface periodically for breaths of air. Their calves weigh about 2.5 tonnes at birth and are 7 meters (23 feet) long. By comparison, one of the largest known dinosaurs of the Mesozoic Era was Argentinosaurus, which is estimated to have weighed up to 90 tonnes (99 short tons), comparable to the average blue whale. This incredible animal is the blue whale! What could it be? Learn more about whale conservation, their habitat, migration and other interesting information with our fun whale facts. At birth the calf measures 6 to 7.5 meters in length which are about 1/4. The blue whale is a baleen whale. Accumulated ear wax can tell a whale's age. Scientists have discovered that by counting the layers of a deceased whale's waxlike earplugs, they can get a close estimate of the animal's age. They were never weighed whole, but cut into blocks 0.5â0.6 meters (1.6â2 ft) across and weighed by parts. 26. Blue whales can weigh over 150 tons and be over 100 feet in length. They live in all the oceans around the globe and depending on the time of the year; they can be found in different oceans. Where did you travel to find whales? Flippers of the humpback whale can be as long as 15 feet. No, don’t worry – it’s a blue whale. News and facts about animals, natural history and science. Although they are aquatic animals, blue whales cannot breathe underwater. Should you have any concerns about your health, or of that of your baby or child, please consult with your doctor. Blue whales are among Earth's longest-lived animals. Your use of this site indicates your agreement to be bound by the Terms of Use. The improving technology in hunting and shipbuilding made it easier to catch whales. The main arteries of a blue whale are so large that a small person could crawl through them! 55 Beautiful ‘Happy Holiday’ Wishes, Greetings and Messages. They swim at an average speed of 20 Km/hr and can reach a top speed of 50 km/hr. We hope you and your kids enjoyed reading these facts. This article contains lots of amazing information about blue whales, including a list of blue whale facts for kids. Click for ... kidskonnect.com They can eat up to 7,715 pounds (3,500 kg) of krill a day! Blue whales have mating songs to communicate. The blue whale is the largest animal ever to have lived on earth – even bigger than the biggest dinosaurs! Join the FREE Active Wild Newsletter List. Before the whaling era estimated 200,000-300,000 blue whales existed in the world’s oceans. It is so huge that the weight of its tongue (5,400 pounds) is equal to that of an elephant. Most of the year, they are found in deep waters near the Arctic and Antarctic regions, where there is a large amount of krill. Blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus) are the largest animals ever known to have lived on Earth.. Blue whales are baleen whales â a suborder of whales that can filter tiny organisms out of the sea with their bristly baleen mouth combs.. However, killer whales mostly target the calves, and their hunt is rarely successful. The blue whale blows, also called spouts at the time of their exhalation consists of air and water. The longest recorded whale measured 33.5m. Blue whales live for an average of 80-90 years. Scientists don’t really know why blue whales are so humongous. Blue whales are the loudest animals on the planet with their volume greater than 180 decibels. They also have exceptionally deep voices at frequencies around 14Hz which is inaudible to us. In reality, they are greyish blue. Let’s find out more about these giant sea animals…, (This article is part of our Endangered Animals series.). Active Wild Pinterest Active Wild Facebook. Bean bags are a must-found toy in places like daycare, preschools, crèches, as they proffer immense benefits to kids. Blue whales aren’t as blue as they seem in deep waters, it’s an effect caused by sunlight and the depth of the ocean around. A few species can also grow to sizes of 10-12cm. The blowhole on top of its head is actually the nostril. Blue whale hearts weigh as much a car and their tongues as much as a whole elephant! Krill are small crustaceans that are similar to shrimp and measure in size between 1-5 cm on an average. An adult whale can eat up to 40 million krill a day or around 8,000 lbs. Other Interesting Facts about Blue Whales for Children. In comparison, the sound of a jet engine at full thrust is 130 decibels. Being endangered animals, it’s important that children learn about their behaviour, habitat, population and the influence of human activity have on them. This streamline shape lets them travel quickly and for long distances. Blue whales are carnivorous, and their diet consists of some of the smallest animals in the ocean called Krill. If you have some more facts about whales for kids to add to the list, tell us by commenting below! They can shoot up to 9 (30ft) meters into the air. Their mouth is large enough to fit 100 people, and yet their food pipe is so small that a human cannot pass through. Before the whaling era there were around 200,000 – 300,000 whales but after, there were just 5,000 – 12,000. The mouth of the blue whale contains a row of plates that are fringed with âbaleenâ, which are similar to bristles. Imagine you’re on a whale watching expedition. Unlike other whales that have teeth, blue whales have baleen plates to eat the small crustaceans in a method called filter feeding. Blue whales live in all oceans of the world including the Antarctic Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. Generally with a length of 80 to 100 feet (24 to 30 meters), the longest... 2 How much does a blue whale weigh? Blue whales can only eat small prey because they have a very narrow oesophagus (throat). Their mating season lies between autumn to the end of winter. These are ready-to-use Blue Whale worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about the blue whale which is the largest living animal known to have ever existed on Earth. Once the mother stops nursing the calf, it will begin to feed on solid food and hunt on its own. There are many different species including the blue whale, killer whale, humpback whale and minke. ActiveWild.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for website owners to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon stores. 12 Their future is unclear 1 How big is a blue whale? They normally swim around 10km/hr but can go up to 50 km/hr when threatened. Here are two whale charities that allow you to adopt a whale. Here are some blue whale fun facts for kids that are easy to remember: The blue whale blows, also called spouts at the time of their exhalation consists of air and water. It is a marine mammal and also one of the 15 species of baleen whales. Copyright © 2020 ActiveWild.com. Whales are very vocal and can produce sounds that can be heard for miles underwater. The milk is rich in fat and all the vital nutrients that will help it develop. A 30-metre blue whale, which may weigh as much as 135,000kg, can consume 2-7 tonnes of minuscule krill a day, rolling onto its side to take as much in as possible. Feeling a little nervous, you take a closer look. when you adopt a blue whale you will receive a certificate of adoption and some more information on this amazing mammal. They reach sexual maturity at the ages of 5-10 years, while their total lifespan is about 80 years. Blue whales are found in all of the world’s oceans and mostly spend summers close to the arctic waters feeding on krill. Most of the year they can be found in the Arctic and Antarctic water where they follow the Krill masses. Their lungs can hold 5000 litres of air during dives. Discover A Stealthy North American Predator, American Crocodile Facts, Pictures & In-Depth Information, North American Porcupine Facts: Discover North America’s Second-Largest Rodent, North American Bird ID Quiz App For Android: Available Now From The Play Store, Nine-Banded Armadillo Facts, Pictures & In-Depth Information, Bighorn Sheep Facts: Discover The Largest Sheep Native To North America. They are actually the loudest animal on earth and their sounds can reach 188 decibels. About the length of 3 double decker buses! Their tongue alone weighs as much as an elephant. You’re far out at sea when you look over the side of the boat and see the huge shadow of a creature below the water! The blue whale uses its tail fin, called the fluke, to swim through the ocean at speeds of over 20 miles per hour. Because they're mammals, blue whales can't breathe underwater and have to come to the top of the water ⦠Blue whales are the largest animals to have ever lived on our planet. Whales can weigh between 500 pounds and 200 tons. Are you wondering how loud that is? The blue whale is a marine mammal. Blue Whale Facts for Kids Blue whale (Balaenoptera Musculus) is by far the largest animal in the world that has ever lived on this planet. It’s absolutely free, you can unsubscribe at any time, and we’ll never share information with anyone else. The mothers feed the newborn babies for the first 6-9 months through a nipple. A newly born calf can drink up to 400 litres of milk a day and continues drinking until about 7-9 months. Blue whales can live up to 90 years old in the wild. They are gigantic. They chase, bite and wear it down until it becomes weak enough for them to feast on. The whale is just looking for krill to eat. The blue whale is the biggest animal in the world, but strangely, it survives by eating very small creatures! Blue whale, (Balaenoptera musculus), also called sulfur-bottom whale, the most massive animal ever to have lived, a species of baleen whale that weighs approximately 150 tons and may attain a length of more than 30 metres (98 feet). Blue whales ⦠Uncontrolled hunting by humans caused their numbers to plummet to 5000-12000. The oldest known blue whale was 110-years-old. Follow the link below to find out more and to sign up! © William W. Rossiter / WWF Interesting Blue Whale Facts 1. Write about your day on the ocean. During the industrial age, Blue whales were hunted for their blubber (to extract oil), food, clothing and other products made out of whale body parts. Being the largest animals, they also are super-heavy. Learn more amazing facts about the blue whale in this video from National Geographic Kids. Click on the photo below to discover this week’s animal! Its scientific name is Balaenoptera Musculus. Because they are so huge, blue whales donât have any natural predators. Blue Whale Facts, Worksheets, Habitat, Diet & Information For Kids. Sometimes, a pod of whales will join forces to surround a larger animal, such as a blue whale. The blue whale is not only one of the most well-known species of whale, itâs also the largest known whale in existence growing to lengths of over 100 ft and weighing more than 150 tons; although 60 â 80 ft. is more common.. A blue whale’s call can be heard many miles away and deep below the ocean’s surface. What did they look like? The female blue whales typically give birth every two or three years at the start of winter and have a gestation period of 10 to 12 months. It is estimated that just 10,000 to 25,000 blue whales now swim across the worldâs oceans. They can shoot up to 9 (30ft) meters into the air. Since then a steady rise of cargo freights and ships in the ocean has increased noise pollution limiting their communication distances to the only 160km. The ocean is part whale pee. 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