Blue Whale ( Balaenoptera musculus )
Blue Whale - Blue Whale information - Blue Whale facts
The Blue whale is a large mammal. Its length is over 25 meters (85 feet) and the female whales are larger than the males. Its weight is overwhelming as well: over 120 tons (122 tonnes). Its skin is grey-blue and there are plenty of grooves in the area from throat to the naval. Balaenoptera musculus is distributed worldwide but mostly can be found in polar areas. Due to its huge size it is very easily spotted even from very long distances.
These whales are breeding every 2-3 years and the gestation period lasts approximately 10-11 months. Sexual maturity is reached at the age of 5. Its feeding habits are very interesting as it feeds only for 5 months annually. Its diet consists of fish and other sea food. The Blue whale lives up to 45 years.
The whales communicate between themselves in many different ways. The most significant and interesting way is definitely via low-frequent pulses. This particular whale can create sound which is as loud as 188 dB. This makes it the loudest created sound by an animal. Human beings are not able to create such a loud sound. Even rock and metal concerts are more quite! This sound can be detected 850 km (530 miles) away from its source!
Many people think that these extraordinary animals - whales must be fish because they look similar to them and moreover they live in water. However they are wrong, because whales are mammals. They even breathe with lungs just like humans do. Also this is a nice example how exciting animal kingdom is.
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