Blue Whale

Balaenoptera musculus

About This Species

Lengthup to 29.9m

Weightup to 199 tons

The largest animal ever known to have existed, reaching up to 29.9m (98ft) and 199 tons, with a streamlined blue-gray body and distinctive pleated throat grooves for lunge feeding on krill. Found in all oceans except the Arctic, with several subspecies including the massive Antarctic blue whale. Despite some recovery from whaling, populations remain well below historical levels.