Blue whale

The blue whale (*Balaenoptera musculus*) is the largest animal known to have ever lived and the largest living marine mammal.

The blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) is the largest animal known to have ever lived and the largest living marine mammal. It is a baleen whale that feeds mainly on krill and occurs in oceans worldwide except the Arctic Ocean. The species is listed as endangered.

Description

Blue whales are massive baleen whales in the rorqual family. They are the largest known animals on Earth, with the largest confirmed individuals reaching about 30 metres in length and up to roughly 200 tonnes in weight.

Habitat and distribution

Blue whales are found in oceans worldwide except the Arctic Ocean. They occur in both coastal and pelagic waters and migrate between feeding and breeding grounds. In Canadian waters, blue whales are found in the North Atlantic and North Pacific, making them relevant to Canadian marine conservation and whale-watching interests.

Diet and feeding

Blue whales feed almost exclusively on krill. They strain large volumes of seawater through baleen plates and can consume several tonnes of krill per day during feeding periods.

Conservation

Blue whales were heavily reduced by commercial whaling in the 20th century and are now classified as endangered. Current major threats include ship strikes and entanglement in fishing gear.