Blue Whale

It may surprise you to learn that the Blue Whale is related to the hippo as well. Many experts believe that they were once animals that lived either completely on land or both on land and in the water. Due to unknown circumstances though they were able to evolve into creatures that live completely in the water. Their limbs that once allowed them movement on the land became flippers so that they could easily move around in the water.

It is also believed that they developed two blow holes so that they could remain underwater for long periods of time. They needed to be able to get access to large amounts of food and that is where they would find it. Having to go to the surface often would have used up too much energy. Other ways in which the Blue Whale evolved include being able to use both light and sound to help them navigate in the water.

The body of a Blue Whale is interesting when you consider its size. It is long and slender but as long as a bus! They can be about 108 feet in length and they can weigh about 190 tons. That is why they are the largest animals out there. Even the early dinosaurs couldn't compete with this size. They feature many colors too including shades of white, blue, and green. It is very interesting to look at the coloring of one so do so if you get the opportunity.

The head of every type of whale is different and that is true of the Blue Whale for sure. It has a U shape to it that you can't help but notice if you know what to look for. Since they are Baleen Whales they also have two blow holes rather than just one on the top. This is what they use to take in air when they go to the surface. Sometimes that is the only part of the whale that will be seen and the rest of it stays submerged.

The grooves you will notice that run under the body are actually there to help them with the process of filtering food. There are from 50 to 70 of these grooves on each one. They need them to help with keeping the food they take in and separating it from the water and other items that they need to expel.

There is still plenty to learn about the behaviors of the Blue Whale. What we do know is that they live alone or in pairs. Often these pairs are a mother and her offspring. Since the young grow so rapidly it is often believed that they are much older than they really are. In fact, they can gain up to 200 pounds every single day during that first year of life. While Blue Whales are loners due to their need to feed on so much, they tend to get along very well.

Some early stories suggest the whistles of them that can be heard for miles around are due to that fact that they are lonely. When they do come into contact with others it is generally due to feeding locations overlapping, migrating season, or it is time to find a mate. They tend to get along well with others and not be territorial as many other animals are.

Blue Whales are found in all the major oceans but it mainly in the Indian Ocean that they are spotted. They love the warmer climates and that is also why they will migrate to warmer waters during the winter months. They also look for mates while they are moving to the warmer waters.

If you are looking for them close to the shore you aren't going to see them. They need to be in deeper water due to their body mass. They also need to be where large amount of food is at, and they can't find it closer to the shore. That is why many people go out on boating expeditions that are guided if they want the best chance of seeing a Blue Whale up close.

Krill are the primary food source of Blue Whales regardless of where they reside. They can eat millions of them every single day, which is from 9,000 to 40,000 pounds. The larger the Blue Whale is the more it is going to eat. During the summer months they will eat all they can even when they are full. That way they can live off the stored fat in the winter months. During the winter it is harder to find food, they are moving for migration, and they are looking for mates so they don't have the time they need to feed at the same level.

The process of Blue Whales mating isn't often seen due to where in the water it takes place. Researchers have been able to piece together some basic information though. It is believed that they are ready to mate about 8 or 10 years of age. A female will only mate and have a pup every 2 or 3 years. This is because she will be carrying one when the new mating season roles around and likely caring for one the next year.

It takes a Blue Whale 12 months for the pup to grow and be born. The mothers are great care givers of these young. Of course a baby Blue Whale isn't small by any means. They average 20 feet in length at birth and be up to 3 tons in weight. They will drink gallons and gallons of milk from their mother's body for the first six months of life. Then they will learn to consume krill with her help.

You may have already guessed that Blue Whales don't have very many predators. The Orca is sometimes a problem for them. They do put up quite fight with them though and many survive. It took researchers some time to figure out what the bite marks were on many of them. It is believed these scars are from battles with the Orca but that the Blue Whale doesn't initiate that conflict.

The biggest predator for them though is humans. In the early 1900's hunting these huge animals became so popular that they were almost wiped out. They were placed under protection by law so that they wouldn't end up extinct in 1966. Their numbers a decade a go where about 200,000 and today no more than 12,000 of them remain.