Species MammalsBlue Whale

Blue Whale

Balaenoptera musculus

RareMammal
Illustration of Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus)

The Blue Whale is the largest animal ever known to have lived on Earth, reaching lengths over 100 feet and weights over 200 tons. Despite its enormous size, it feeds almost exclusively on tiny crustaceans called krill, gulping up to 40 million krill per day during peak feeding season. Its heart is the size of a small car, and its low-frequency vocalizations can travel thousands of miles through ocean basins.

Habitat
Open oceans and coastal upwelling zones; migratory
Diet
Krill and other small schooling crustaceans
How common
Rare

Best time to see a Blue Whale

The best time to see a Blue Whale is June–August, when about 61% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 424 research-grade iNaturalist observations.

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