Blue Whale Fact Sheet

1.) It's the largest animal known on earth.  It can be anywhere from 75 - 100 feet long.

2.) It weighs approximately150 tons which is 300,000 pounds.

3.) It's heart is the size of a small car.

4.) It's tongue is large enough to fit 50 people on it.

5.) It is blue-gray in color with white-gray spots.

6.) It is a mammal which means it's warm-blooded like humans.

7.) It breathes air.  It has 2 blowholes on the top of it's head and it swims to the surface and breathes in air.  It can stay under water approximately 1 hour before having to return to the surface to take another breath.

8.) When it returns to the surface it blows air out of it's blowhole and because the air that comes out is warmer than the air above, it creates small water particles so it looks like water is coming out of the hole.  It's actually air.

9.) Blue Whales have a thick layer of blubber (fat) that helps them stay warm in the cold water.

10.) Blue Whales eat krill, plankton, crustaceans and small fish.

11.) It is thought to be the loudest animal alive today.  It makes a very loud, repetitive sound under water to communicate with other whales.  It is louder than a jet airplane.

12.) A Blue Whale can live for 35 - 40 years.

13.) There are approximately 10,000 - 14,000 Blue Whales worldwide.

14.) Blue Whales can be found in all oceans around the world.