![]() Longevity in blue whales, and other large cetaceans, is estimated by counting the number of ovarian scars in sexually mature females, changes in the coloration of eye lenses, and counting the number of ridges on baleen plates. Male blue whales do not contribute parental care. Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male)īlue whale young are cared for extensively by their mother. ![]() Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male) 5 years.Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female).Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female) 5 years.Range time to independence 2 to 3 years.Breeding season Breeding occurs during the winter months.Breeding interval Females give birth to young every 2 to 3 years.gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate).Longevity has been estimated to be as high as 110 years. ![]() Males mature at 20 to 21 m, just under 5 years old. Twins are rare but do occur occassionally. Sexual maturity occurs at about 5 years old in females, or at about 21 to 23 m in length and young are produced every 2 or 3 years after that. Young are weaned after seven or eight months, usually after attaining a length of 16 m. While nursing, blue whales can gain up to 90 kg in body weight a day. Young are born in warm, low latitude waters in the winter months after the adults return from their high latitude feeding grounds. The gestation period is eleven or twelve months long, unusually short for an animal its size. Very little is known about mating in the large whale species. ![]() The longest confirmed specimen was 33.5 m in length and the heaviest was 190,000 kg. Average head-body length in adult males is 25 m in females it is 27 m. There are 50-90 throat grooves that extend from the chin to just beyond the navel.īlue whales are the largest animals ever to exist on earth. The upper jaw is the widest in the genus, and the rostrum is the bluntest. The dorsal fin is short, only about 35 cm. Because of this blue whales are sometimes called "sulphurbottoms". The undersides often become covered with microorganisms, giving the belly a yellowish tinge. ( Nowak, 1991 Wilson and Ruff, 1999)īlue whales are slate to grayish blue and mottled with lighter spots, particularly on the back and shoulders. ( Nowak, 1991 Wilson and Ruff, 1999)īlue whales live in the open ocean. Orcas, also known as killer whales, are known to prey on other marine mammals, including dolphins and seals.Blue whales are found in all oceans of the world, from the tropics to the drift ice of polar waters. In drone footage captured on May 18 in Monterey, California, a group of orcas is seen carrying out a coordinated attack on a blue whale. What kind of animals do killer whales eat? In these attacks, a large pod of killer whales is usually spotted working cooperatively to try to successfully take down a blue whale by surrounding it from the front, sides, and bottom to prevent it from escaping hopefully.Ī pod of orcas was seen conducting a synchronized attack on the world’s largest animal, and they were probably not doing it for food. How does a killer whale take down a blue whale? The blue whale does have predators, however, and both killer whales and sharks will sometimes attack the whale though both species also hunt smaller animals. This extreme size makes it possible for the blue whale to avoid most predators simply because predators are unable to successfully attack, kill and then eat the mammal. How are blue whales able to avoid predators? The whales are undoubtedly banking on the notion that swimming through a cloud of feces will put off any predator’s appetite. When these modestly sized whales are under attack, they defend themselves by releasing fecal material into the water and swirling it around with their fins. However, the two primary tools of defense for whales are 1.) their tail and 2.) When being attacked, whales can thrash their tails around, both injuring and frightening their attacker. They filter feed for tiny krill and are totally harmless to people (other than through accidental collisions).įor whales that are toothed, they can use their teeth to attack their prey and protect themselves from certain dangers. Interestingly, though they are enormous, blue whales are not predatory. However, there are very few reports of orcas actually killing blue whales. The only sea creature known to attack blue whales is the orca whale (scientific name: Orcinus orca) also known as the “killer whale”. What kind of animals do killer whales eat?īecause of their size, power and speed, adult blue whales have virtually no natural ocean predators.Where was the attack on the blue whale?.How are blue whales able to avoid predators?.
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