Blue Whale
Balaenoptera musculus
- Class
- Mammal
- Rarity
- Epic
- Observations
- 1,484
- Most observed in
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Conservation
- Endangered
Description
The blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) is a species of baleen whale and the largest marine mammal in the rorqual family Balaenopteridae. Reaching a maximum confirmed length of 29.9–30.5 m (98–100 ft) and weighing up to 190–200 t (190–200 long tons; 210–220 short tons), it is the largest animal known to have ever existed. The blue whale's long and slender body can be of various shades of greyish-blue on its upper surface and somewhat lighter underneath.
Summary adapted from the Wikipedia article “Blue whale”.