Amazing Animal facts (Blue Whale)

1. The Blue Whale is an enormous species of whale that is found in subtropical and polar waters worldwide. Blue whales are the largest animals ever known to have lived on Earth.  Just one breath from a fully grown adult Blue Whale will produce enough air to fill nearly 2,000 balloons!

2. These magnificent marine mammals rule the oceans at up to 100 feet (30 meters) long and upwards of 200 tons (181 metric tons). Their tongues alone can weigh as much as an elephant. Their hearts, as much as an automobile.

3. The giant animals feed by first gulping an enormous mouthful of water, expanding the pleated skin on their throat and belly to take it in. Then the whale’s massive tongue forces the water out through the thin, overlapping baleen plates. Thousands of tiny shrimp-like animals called krill are left behind—and then swallowed.

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4. There are three recognised sub-species of the Blue Whale which are the Northern Blue Whale, the Southern Blue Whale and the Pygmy Blue Whale that despite it’s name, still reaches an average length of 24 meters.

5. The Blue Whale has an enormously long body that is slim and narrow, which means that they are able to cut through the water with ease.

6.  The large tail of the Blue Whale is straight and splits into two rubbery flukes at the end and helps to propel their massive bodies through the water.

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7. Blue Whales belong to the “Baleen Whales” group which means that instead of having teeth, there are up to 395 hard and bristle-like baleen plates that hang from the upper jaw and are used to filter food out of the water.

8. Like other whales, Blue Whales also have two blow-holes on the top of their large heads which are used to expel stale air and sea water from their lungs when the Blue Whale surfaces to breathe.

9.Blue Whales use a variety of sounds (known as songs) including hums, squeaks and rumbles to communicate between one another, particularly during the breeding season in winter. In order to ensure that their voices are heard, the noises Blue Whales make are incredibly loud and having been recorded at volumes greater than 180 decibels, they are known produce the loudest sound of any creature on the planet.

10. The Blue Whale has very small fins and flippers so relies on it’s enormous tail to help it to plough through the ocean. Blue Whales also uses their tails to make deep dives as by bringing it above the surface of the water, they are able to get enough power to travel up to 200 meters steeply down into the sea.

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11. Newborn Blue Whales already measure seven meters in length and weigh around 2.5 tonnes and remain by their mother’s side for at least their first year. Before they are weaned by the time they are eight months old, Blue Whale calves are known to consume up to 90kg of milk every day. Blue Whales are able to start reproducing themselves when they are between 10 and 15 years old with females giving birth every two or three years

12. Blue Whales are known to eat a tremendous amount during the summer, when they migrate to the warmer waters for winter to breed they will barely eat anything at all. Blue Whales can live for up to 40 years.