Everything you need to know about the largest animals ever know to have lived on earth
How long do blue whales live?
Up to 110 years. Even after a blue whale dies, its carcass sinks to the bottom and generates an energy-rich underwater ecosystem supporting a multitude of marine creatures and communities
How many subspecies of blue whales are there?
Five: northern, Antarctic, pygmy, northern Indian Ocean and Chilean blue whales.
How often do they give birth?
Once every two years, after a one-year gestation. Newborns can be up to 7 m (about 23 feet) long.
What do they eat?
Almost only krill, up to 4 tonnes a day. They routinely dive 200-300 m to feed.
Where do they live?
In all oceans, from the surface down to 500 m. In summer they migrate to higher latitudes.
How many blue whales are left in the world?
Scientists estimate that only around 10,000 to 25,000 blue whales remain globally.
About the Authors
Wenzel Pinto
is a marine biologist at the Nature Conservation Foundation and is currently working on reef dynamics and island vulnerability in the Lakshadweep archipelago.
