what do blue whales eat

Its tongue alone can weigh as much as an adult elephant! Despite being the largest living mammal in the world the blue whales primary diet consists almost exclusively of krill, a small oceanic creature that generally measure in at a measly 1-2 centimeters; although a few species of krill can grow close to 6 inches in size. Whales eat different foods depending on where they live. Blue whale diets. The largest animal ever known – the blue whale – sets a number of impressive records. All maps, graphics, flags, photos and original descriptions © 2020 worldatlas.com. Due to their large size, adult blue whales spend a vast amount of time feeding to obtain energy and nutrients. Do they socialize? In certain locations such as the Antarctic krill can form very large biomass’s. Blue whales inhabit most of the world's major oceans like the Antarctic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, and the Indian Ocean. In the Pacific, small blue whale populations can be seen around the Korean Peninsula, in the coastal waters of the Sea of Japan, and off Kushiro. The primary and preferred diet of blue whales is krilltiny shrimp-like animals. The primary food source a the blue whale is krill, a type of crustacean found all over the world. The multi-chambered stomach of these whales is large enough to devour 2,200 pounds of food. Due to their large size, adult blue whales spend a vast amount of time feeding to obtain energy and nutrients. They feed almost exclusively on krill, straining huge volumes of ocean water through their baleen plates (which are like the teeth of a comb). Without krill a large number of species would have difficulty finding sustainable food sources, including the blue whale. Since the blue whale is a mammal it also requires large amounts of oxygen in order to breathe. Most whales, and in particular the baleen whales, feed on some of the smallest animals in the ocean. As it turns out, most whales don’t eat large prey. Scooping them up in huge mouthfuls of water, they filter out the krill from the seawater through curtain-like teeth known as baleen, releasing the water back into the sea. Blue Whale and Human Interaction An adult blue whale can eat up to 40 million krill in a day. The blue whale diet consists almost exclusively of euphausiids(krill). The blue whale is the largest animal known to ever live on Earth, weighing in at 330,000 pounds (150,000 kilograms) and stretching up to 108 feet (33 meters). In fact it is estimated the biomass of Antarctic krill is more than that of humans. The 10 Coldest Cities In The United States. But the hungriest creatures in the ocean are the killer whales. Because of this, blue whales require larger and more dense “prey patches” (concentrations of prey) than other baleen whales. Most whales eat krill, and plankton & and shrimp Blue whales eat mainly of krill, a tiny shrimp that lives in tremendously large schools. Commonly many whales are known for feeding on krill and other tiny crustaceans, but many are left wondering: Do whales eat fish or octopus? The International Union for Conservation of Nature estimates that there are probably between 10,000 and 25,000 blue whales worldwide today. One of these theories include using bioluminescent light as a form of communication. Krill are small crustaceans that can be found swimming in all of the worlds major oceans including the Atlantic, Pacific, Arctic and Antarctic oceans in addition to other smaller bodies of water. Disclosure Policy | Privacy Policy | Copyright © 2020 WhaleFacts.org. Apart from krill, blue whales have also been known to feed on several species of copepods. Grey whales eat upto 340,000 lbs during their feeding period of 130 to 140 days, that is an average intake of about 2,200 lbs of food per day. Blue Whales in The World : We have already talked a little about what do blue whales eat; now it is important to talk about their population, in order to know if they are endangered. Even though these marine mammals are larger than most whales their bodies are quite slim and streamlined for their size allowing them to reach for speeds of up to 25 miles per hour or more when threatened or startled; however the average traveling speed of these marine mammals remains closer to 5 mph. In some cases these swarms can be so large that they make the water appear a different color. Blue whales are simply enormous, ranging in length from 24-33 metres, and females are up to 10 metres longer than their male counterparts. Although this whale is massive, it feeds almost exclusively on krill. Fin whales eat a variety of schooling fish, crustaceans, and squids. The reason krill do this is to minimize potential threats from predators while they feed near the surface. Despite being the largest living mammal in the world the blue whales primary diet consists almost exclusively of krill, a small oceanic creature that generally measure in at a measly 1-2 centimeters; although a few species of krill can grow close to 6 inches in size. The primary reason why whales feed on such vast quantities of krill is that they have massive energy requirements. A blue whale’s body is so big that it can fit a few hundred people inside it. A blue whale eats krill almost exclusively, consuming up to 7,900 pounds (3,600 kg) of these tiny, shrimplike invertebrates daily. While consuming krill the blue whale may coincidentally swallow fish, crustaceans and squid that happen to be swimming in or near the school of krill it is hunting. Blue whales mostly eat krill. Blue whales feed almost exclusively on krill… Watch amazing drone footage of a blue whale lunging to eat a meal. Blue whales can be found in all of our planet’s oceans, except the Arctic, usually swimming alone or … Calves continue to be dependent on their mother's milk until they can thrive on their own. The blue whale slowly absorbs water and food, and the water is expelled while the food is swallowed. This whale species is located in every ocean across the world. Baleen plates are filters that are in place of their teeth. Since the blue whales prey migrates toward deeper waters during the day time most hunting takes place around 300 ft. underneath the water. The global blue whale population has reduced significantly within the last century mainly due to hunting. During the summer months, whales eat about 4 tons of food every day. Blue whale the largest known animal to have ever existed. The purpose of producing emitting light from their bodies isn’t fully understood however there have been several theories suggesting reasons for this. What do Whales Eat? In regards to diving for food the amount of time a blue whale dives for generally last around 10 minutes, although these whales have been recorded staying submerged for up to half an hour. Other threats facing blue whales include hunting and pollution of their habitats. Feasting mostly on krill a tiny shrimp like creature found in great clouds in the ocean blue whales can eat as many as 40 million a day. A fully grown blue whale can consume as many as 40 million krill in a single day, which weighs roughly 177,000 pounds. Blue whales are generally loners, rarely if ever forming pods like other kinds of whales. They spend the summer in polar waters, feeding on shrimplike crustaceans called krill. Aside from gathering in areas where they can consume large quantities of phytoplankton krill are also able to produce thousands of eggs at a time in order to maximize the chances of their genes being passed onto the next generation. By Benjamin Elisha Sawe on November 12 2018 in Environment. It can consume as many as 40 million krill per day, which ends up … In the North Atlantic, these marine mammals can be spotted off Newfoundland, the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, Nova Scotia, Greenland, the Azores, and Iceland. Baleen looks like long, tightly-packed brush bristles, and is made of keratin, which is the same substance that makes up your hair and fingernails. Blue whales feed through a unique method of filtering that is common to other baleen whales. In any case krill are fascinating animals that many other species rely on for their survival. Ironically, the largest animal on the planet survives by eating one of the smallest. Have you ever wondered what the world’s largest mammals eat? Do Whales Eat Fish? It was hunted almost to the point of extinctionby whalinguntil the International Whaling Commissionbanned all hunting of … Swarms may also occur throughout the day as krill become hungry and rise to the surface in order to obtain food. Blue whales are baleen whales, meaning they have long plates of baleen they use to filter food out of the water. Humpback whales eat mackerel, krill, schooling fish, anchovies, and sardines. Despite the whale's size, scientists have trouble locating and studying the cetacean in the vastness of the ocean, leaving many questions about the mammal's life history, particularly its mating and courtship behaviors. Blue whales feed mainly on krill. It is typically only during the night that blue whales will feed on krill near the surface of the water because krill generally migrates toward the surface during the night and dives back down into the ocean during the day. What Are The Differences Between Whales And Dolphins? By emitting light these animals can organize themselves and locate other krill. At most a blue whale might pair up with one other blue whale as they search for food. Some of the biggest individuals may eat up to 6 tons of krill in 1 day. They can eat up to 7,715 pounds (3,500 kg) of krill a day! These whales eat 8,000 lbs each day for about 120 days, it is estimated that the blue whale’s stomach can take 2,200 lbs of food to fill it. The bioluminescent light they produce may make them less visible to predators that are look up from below them. The primary food source a the blue whale is krill, a type of crustacean found all over the world. The blue whale is one of the most well-known species of marine mammal in the world. In comparison to the small size of krill the blue whale can grow to be more than 100 ft. long (60 – 80 ft. on average) and weigh over 180 tons (100 – 150 tons on average)! The main arteries of a blue whale are so large that a small person could crawl through them! What do Blue whales eat? They do have gassy pockets, but it’s not air, not good to breath. Note: Instead of krill the baby blue whale consumes milk during its first 6 – 18 months of birth and can drink as much as 150 gallons of milk per day during its first year. Blue whale, sadly, have been classified several times, as a species at risk of extinction. While their diet consists mainly of tiny phytoplankton and some zooplankton these animals are extremely important to the oceans ecosystem as they feed a wide range of oceanic animals. These colossal cetaceans often reach 30 metres in length and can weigh up to 180 tonnes - so they need to eat a lot to keep them swimming. Occasionally though, they also feed on amphipods, copepods and pelagic red crabs. Blue whales that live in the waters of the waters of Lower California and Mexico are known to eat red crabs. They then push the water out of their mouth with their tongue while keeping the krill trapped inside their baleen bristles, which researchers and marine biologists state resemble the teeth found on a comb. This feeding will continue until the young whale is able to hunt for food and survive on its own. In the northern region of the Pacific Ocean, the species of krill available includes Euphausia pacifica, Nyctiphanes symplex, and Thysanoessa longipes. Once they’ve filled themselves up they sink back down towards lower depths. Small fish and plankton are also consumed by this whale. Depending on their species and location krill can be found at varying depths of water from 100 m – 4,000 m. In terms of size krill can measure anywhere from 1 – 15 centimeters, however most krill measure no more than 1 – 2 centimeters long. The blue whale was once abundant in nearly all the oceans on Earthuntil the end of the 19th century. This daily requirement of an adult blue whale is in the region of 1.5 million kilocalories. One of the most significant threats that face the global blue whale population is collisions with ships. Blue whales are mammals and therefore young blue whales, called calves, feed on their mother's milk after birth. In response, various organizations have been established in an attempt to protect and increase the global population of blue whales. The blue whale's fame stems from the fact that it is currently the largest animal on Earth. Due to the massive amount of energy they require, blue whales tend to spend vast quantities of time in regions with a large concentration of krill. In the Northern Hemisphere, blue whales can be seen regularly in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and off the coasts of Monterey, California, and Baja California, Mexico. The answer to this question is actually quite simple. Blue whales can weigh as much as 90 to 150 tons. Blue whales, at the other end of the scale, have a warmblooded body to support as well as a complex brain. In order to obtain adequate energy the blue whale can consume as many as 40 million krill per day, which provides their large bodies with enough nutrients to survive and thrive in the ocean. Scientists have discovered that by counting the layers of a deceased whale's waxlike earplugs, they can get a close estimate of the animal's age. The combination of highly abundant food sources and high reproductive rates is what makes these animals so abundant in certain waters. A blue whale can eat … The blue whale is the largest of all the whales, and can measure in at close to 100 feet in length and weigh over 300,000 pounds. Fun Facts. Diet of Adult Blue Whale . Their extremely active, predatory lifestyle means they need 3.7 per cent of their body weight each day to survive; when your body weighs six tons, that’s a lot of fish! For example, in the northern region of the Atlantic Ocean, the species of krill available include Meganyctiphanes norvegica, Thysanoessa longicaudata, and Thysanoessa raschii. Blue whales eat tiny prey. When it comes to eating food the blue whale can consume as many as 40 million krill per day, which ends up weighing close to 8,000 pounds of food on a daily basis! With a body that big, you might think that whales eat other big animals. Blue whales eat approximately 40,000,000 krill a day! Due to the fact that blue whales need to consume so much food they are almost always found swimming where large abundances of krill reside, which is typically in cold waters around the northern and southern polar hemispheres. Despite the enormous size of the blue whales, they tend to rely on some of the smallest ocean creatures: krill (euphausiids). The baleen plates and bristles of these whales acts like a filter (hence the name) by allowing water to pass in and out of the bristles while keeping their prey trapped inside. The type of krill that the whales feed on depends significantly on location. This whale speciesprimarily eat krill although other small creatures such as copepods can be ingested as well. During the day, blue whales may dive to a depth of approximately 330 feet in search of krill. Actually, these enormous mammals eat tiny organisms, like plankton and krill, which they filter through baleen plates. A third hypothesis is that emitting light can be used as part of a mating call or reproductive pursuit. Blue whale milk contains nearly 50% fat, which is essential for a calf's growth. Krill make up the vast majority of a blue whale's diet. Blue whales lunge through large swarms of krill with their mouths open, taking in more food in one mouthful than any other animal on Earth. We do know that whales can be flatulent, so there is some gas. Apart from krill, blue whales have also been known to feed on several species of copepods. Blue whales are the largest animals ever to live on our planet. A fully matured blue whale needs at least 6.3 Gigajoules of energy on a daily basis. Orcas. Blue whales are among Earth's longest-lived animals. Interestingly krill are bioluminescent meaning they produce light through bioluminescent organs. Also known as killer whales, these cetaceans aren’t actually whales at all – they’re the largest … Another suggestion as to why they produce light is to help them blend in with the sunlight shinning from above them. When these marine mammals hunt for food the blue whale dives underneath the water and swims towards its prey using a technique known as filter feeding (a common hunting method used among baleen whales) in which they swim towards large schools of krill with their mouth open and engulf both their prey along with the surrounding water. While drinking this milk, blue whale calves gain roughly 8 pounds per hour until they are about eight months old. The Blue Whale, also known as the Balaenoptera Musculus, controls the vast ocean, growing up to 100 feet long and weighing up to 200 tons (Blue Whale, 2015, National Geographic).This magnificent creature has a defined niche in its habitat helping to regulate the flow of food in the enormous sea. Due to their small size and limited diet these marine animals are near the bottom of the food chain. The blue whale is a filter-feeder. Areas such as this are largely concentrated with krill because these areas foster lots of phytoplankton which krill feed on for their survival. Blue whales eat krill - tiny, shrimp-like crustaceans that live throughout Earth's oceans. Baleen bristles can be thought of as a fence that allows air to move through but keeps small animals from escaping. But despite their enormous size, blue whales feed almost exclusively on krill - small, shrimp-like crustaceans that grow to about six centimetres. That’s about 40 million krill every day! Blue whale calves can rely exclusively on their mother's milk for as long as 18 months, and can consume nearly 150 gallons of milk each day during the first year of life. The Baleen whales can eat organisms much smaller than themselves, which can cut down the trophic levels between primary producer and the whale itself, making the energy available to the whale population 1,000 units, as opposed to only 1. It is true that many whale species prefer feeding on small morsels of food, but there is one species in particular that can eat larger fish: the sperm whale. Distribution of the Blue Whale. Whale diets. Fish and copepods (tiny crustaceans) may occasionally be part of the blue wha… Pleats and thank you While these swarms are designed to protect krill it can sometimes make them a target for large whales that are hunting them as the swarm presents an abundant food source. In order to protect themselves these small animals may be found traveling in large swarms as this is meant to minimize the chances of any one krill being consumed. Scientists have identified three unique subspecies of the blue whale which live in different oceans, including the Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Antartic Ocean, and Indian Ocean. A hungry big blue can eat up 3.6 metric tons of krill in a single day. Some of the krill species found in the Southern Hemisphere include Nyctiphanes australis, Euphausia superba, and Euphausia valentini. Krill is a small, shrimp-like crustacean, and the blue whale can eat up to four tons of krill per day. Blue whales are the largest animals ever to have lived. It’s also one of the loudest and hungriest species on Earth. The huge whales can eat up to four tonnes of krill every day. The blue whale population in California is most at risk of being hit by ships. They feed on small plankton and krill which drift with the nutrient rich waters where the whales live. Blue whales mainly feed on krill, which are small shrimp-like organisms. The whales always feed in the areas with the highest concentration of krill, sometimes eating up to 3,600 kilograms (7,900 lb) of krill in a single day. With the sunlight shinning from above them daily requirement of an adult blue whales feed through a unique method filtering! 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