The blue whale surpasses all other fauna on our planet in size. Looking back over the past 90 million years of Earth's history, no other animal has emerged to replace it. Therefore, the blue whale rightfully holds the title of the most unique creature in size.
It is a pleasure to look at this giant; its incredible size makes one admire and delight in it. Record-breaking whales can reach lengths of up to 33 meters.This giant can weigh up to 190 tons. However, such giants are extremely rare in the vast ocean. More common are whales measuring 29 meters in length and weighing 130–140 tons. Females typically reach these sizes. Males are slightly smaller, reaching approximately 24–25 meters in length.
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Habitat
Blue whales are found in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. Those living in the planet's southern oceans are larger than their northern counterparts.
- In summer they head to Antarctic waters., spending it in the vastness of the Southern Ocean. In winter, their habitat shifts northward, primarily attracting the latitudes of Madagascar, Peru, and Australia.
- It is impossible to meet them in waters near the equator., as they never live in warm waters. They are more accustomed to the seas around the South Shetland and South Orkney Islands. The Galapagos Islands offer no attraction for this giant. Therefore, the blue whale can rightfully be considered a true inhabitant of the harsh Arctic region.
Appearance
This handsome fellow has an elongated and graceful body.It has a broad head that divides into two parts. The pectoral fins are narrow, and the rear fin is not particularly large, reaching no more than 1 meter in height. It is located near the tail. The tail is wide and adorned with a rough, serrated edge.
The blue whale's skin is dark gray with a bluish tint.The head and lower jaw differ from the rest of the body in their darker color. The abdomen is decorated with pale yellow. Light gray spots of varying shapes and sizes can be seen on different parts of the body. Numerous gular folds—up to 70 in number—can be found behind the jaw.- The mouth is large in size, with a jet-black baleen protruding from the upper jaw. It contains numerous plates, each 50 cm wide and 130 mm high. Each plate is decorated with fringe, and there may be around a hundred of them in total. These plates act as a kind of filter. Thanks to them, the whale can expel water with its tongue, while trapping any trapped marine life inside.
- The whale uses its tongue as a piston.It's 3 meters thick and weighs approximately 4 tons. The blue whale's heart is impressively heavy, weighing 800 kg. Around 10 tons of blood circulates within it every second. The liver is also quite massive, weighing a full ton. Other organs are also enormous. This isn't surprising, as the blue whale is a very large animal.
The blue whale's skin is dark gray with a bluish tint.The head and lower jaw differ from the rest of the body in their darker color. The abdomen is decorated with pale yellow. Light gray spots of varying shapes and sizes can be seen on different parts of the body. Numerous gular folds—up to 70 in number—can be found behind the jaw.Reproduction and lifespan
Blue whale females give birth in winter, when they deliberately migrate to warmer waters. The young whales weigh up to 3 tons and are up to 8 meters long. They require approximately 500 liters of milk daily. They stay with their mother for 7 months.During this time, they increase in weight to 20 tons and reach 16 meters in length.
These majestic animals have an 11-month gestation period, but only give birth to one calf. Females give birth every two years. They reach sexual maturity at age five. Blue whales live for 40–45 years.
The reproduction of blue whales is quite fascinating, so it's worth exploring in more detail. These animals, participating in the mystery of procreation, observe their own rules and traditionsAnd for many centuries, these values have remained immutable for them. Nature itself tells blue whales when it's time to think about future offspring.
This happens in December: it's at this time of year that they begin to swim south, alone or in small groups, to warmer climates. Their journey to these distant latitudes brings them closer to fulfilling one of their main callings. It truly is a beautiful thing to meet your soulmate in the south, surrounded by warm water and hot sun, perfect for creating a romantic atmosphere.
Courtship methods
Arriving at the site where the next generation of whales will emerge isn't all that difficult. But what awaits them is a much more complex task: once there, the males must choose a preferred female for breeding, and this often happens... when they have to compete with each other under very strict rules.
Ultimately, only the strongest whale remains, crowned the victor. From that moment on, he begins courting his chosen mate. This display is truly beautiful and deserves to be called a dance of tenderness and love—the animals swim side by side for a long time, touching fins, jumping out of the water together, slapping their tails…
Since whales come in different species, they have their own courtship methods. Humpback whales, for example, demonstrate their affection by singing beautiful songs. It's noteworthy that These songs are the same for all males.But the following year, they always perform new songs. Once underwater, the amorous animals begin to rise vertically, touching each other's bellies. This moment completes the love ritual.
Warm latitudes attract both male whales searching for their mate and pregnant mothers, who are already carrying yearling calves. The birth itself takes place underwater: the calf is born with its eyes open. And from the womb of the mother he comes out tail firstHe gets the chance to take his first breath the moment he reaches the surface of the water. He's never left without his mother's attention, who helps him surface so he can fill his lungs with air more quickly.
The birth of babies
Whale mating traditionally results in the birth of only one calf. In very rare cases, the young parents may give birth to twins. The calf is typically a third the size of its mother. Repeated births occur no earlier than after two yearsUntil the whale calf is 7 months old, it stays with its mother, feeding on her milk.
Although it's incorrect to call it that, it's more like high-fat cream—up to 50% fat. A young whale requires a great deal of milk—its daily requirement is 580 liters. On this diet, it gains up to 90 kg of weight per day. Before it can participate in the creation of offspring, it will have to live another 8–9 years.
There are some representatives of mammals among whales that remain faithful to their partner until the end of their livesThis is typical, for example, of blue whales. But there are other species, such as humpbacks and gray whales, that are attracted to short-lived holiday romances. Moreover, these relationships end much earlier than those of humans.
Behavior and nutrition
These powerfully bodied mammals reach speeds of 10–12 km/h in the water. This is their normal rhythm, at which They hunt for plankton that unwittingly falls into their wide-open mouths.When we talk about plankton, we mean crustaceans, primarily black-eyed crabs. They are very small in size, no more than 5–6 cm in length.
- A blue whale requires about 2.5 tons of plankton per day.
- To get enough food, he often has to dive to a depth of 10-15 meters, staying under water for 10 minutes.
Sometimes, the hunt becomes so captivating that it can spend up to 20 minutes there. Once sated, it rises to the surface and makes up to 5-6 dives. The whale's fountain is a truly spectacular sight. The column of water it creates can reach a height of up to 10 meters. Afterward, it dives back underwater and continues hunting.
If a blue whale senses danger, it can accelerate to speeds of up to 30 km/h. If necessary, it can dive to depths of up to 300 meters. However, they do so very rarely. they will notice the threat from killer whales, they immediately attempt to rise to the ocean surface. Blue whales most often live in small groups of three to four individuals. Large pods can only be encountered in areas with ample food. However, after the hunt is complete, these groups immediately disperse. Whales have an intriguing method of communication. They use low-frequency vocalizations. These mammals can communicate even when they are 500-600 kilometers apart.
Enemies
The only threat to blue whales in the ocean is the killer whale. They are attracted by the fleshy and tasty tongue of this giant. However, if they decide to attack adult, enormous animals, their hunt usually ends in failure. These bloodthirsty creatures understand this, so they try to choose young whales as their prey. To do this, they try drive an inexperienced animal into the depthsto prevent it from rising to the surface. Gradually, its air supply runs out, and as a result, it soon begins to weaken and can no longer resist. However, even killer whales cause less harm to these mammals than humans. It is precisely because of their foolish actions that the blue whale population is now on the brink of extinction.
Conclusion
Blue whales are one of the most amazing creatures on our planet, known primarily for their enormous size. Watching these giants live is a joy. They feed on plankton, which they often hunt in the deep. However, they cannot stay underwater for long, so they periodically surface, releasing a column of water. It's a truly beautiful sight. Blue whales have virtually no serious predators in the ocean, with the exception of the killer whale. However, an adult whale can always outsmart the killer whale thanks to its size.
