Worlds Grandest Creature
Let's travel deep down under to the depths of the ocean. Full of all kinds of colors, this place is home to several different kinds of creatures, significantly varying in size. We will take a quick glimpse into the life of the worlds largest creature: the blue whale. Let's begin our journey . . .
Birthday
Our first stop along this journey will be our creatures birthday.
Blue whales begin the birthing process by traveling to more tropical seas so that they can give birth to their young. Calfs are born tail first and often weigh around 23 pounds at birth and grow very rapidly. "A blue whale calf can increase its weight at the rate of 10 pounds per hour." During the birthing process these calves do not breath at all so there first action after being born is to swim to the surface to catch their breath. They are nursed and weaned within 6-8 months.
In this picture, the mother is likely to be pushing her new baby up to the surface to receive their first breath.
Blue whales begin the birthing process by traveling to more tropical seas so that they can give birth to their young. Calfs are born tail first and often weigh around 23 pounds at birth and grow very rapidly. "A blue whale calf can increase its weight at the rate of 10 pounds per hour." During the birthing process these calves do not breath at all so there first action after being born is to swim to the surface to catch their breath. They are nursed and weaned within 6-8 months.
In this picture, the mother is likely to be pushing her new baby up to the surface to receive their first breath.
Feeding
As we move on to our second stop of the trip we will take a look into the feeding of these great mammals.
Although blue whales are carnivores and are the biggest creature on Earth, they only eat very small creatures. They feed almost exclusively on a small shrimp like creature called krill. "Blue whales must eat two to four tons of krill a day during the feeding season to survive the rest of the year." They also eat a small amount of zooplankton. This feast takes place within a hundred meters from the surface. Their feeding season is during the summer, but during the other 8 months of the year the live on their stored fat.
This is a picture of a krill. You may now realize why these whales eat so much of it.
Although blue whales are carnivores and are the biggest creature on Earth, they only eat very small creatures. They feed almost exclusively on a small shrimp like creature called krill. "Blue whales must eat two to four tons of krill a day during the feeding season to survive the rest of the year." They also eat a small amount of zooplankton. This feast takes place within a hundred meters from the surface. Their feeding season is during the summer, but during the other 8 months of the year the live on their stored fat.
This is a picture of a krill. You may now realize why these whales eat so much of it.
Migration
Stop three will lead us along the path of the whales throughout the year.
These whales migration routes are based on water temperature. The whales start the summer in the cool waters where their is an abundance of krill. They then move to the warmer waters for winter where they can mate and breed. "They are fast, strong swimmers, capable of reaching 30 mph (48.3 km/hr) when alarmed, but they usually cruise along at about 12 mph (19.3 km/hr)." These fast swimmers most often travel in pairs, although they are sometimes seen in small groups or by themselves.
These whales migration routes are based on water temperature. The whales start the summer in the cool waters where their is an abundance of krill. They then move to the warmer waters for winter where they can mate and breed. "They are fast, strong swimmers, capable of reaching 30 mph (48.3 km/hr) when alarmed, but they usually cruise along at about 12 mph (19.3 km/hr)." These fast swimmers most often travel in pairs, although they are sometimes seen in small groups or by themselves.
Communication
Stop four will teach us about the way that whales vocalize.
"Blue whales have very deep voices and can vocalize at a volume of greater than 180 decibels, the loudest sound of any animal." Some of the sounds that they make are grunts, hums, moans, or clicks. Their voices can go so low that the human ear cannot hear them and their sounds can travel for several miles through the ocean. The whales use these noises to communicate when hunting for krill and when searching for a mate.
The slap of a whales tale is another commonly heard sound coming from these great creatures.
"Blue whales have very deep voices and can vocalize at a volume of greater than 180 decibels, the loudest sound of any animal." Some of the sounds that they make are grunts, hums, moans, or clicks. Their voices can go so low that the human ear cannot hear them and their sounds can travel for several miles through the ocean. The whales use these noises to communicate when hunting for krill and when searching for a mate.
The slap of a whales tale is another commonly heard sound coming from these great creatures.
Mating
This stop we will take a peak into the mating rituals of these creatures.
Blue whales reach sexual maturity around ages 6-10. At this time the male whale is around 74 feet and the female is around 79 feet. Using their songs the males attract their female mates. "Blue whale breeding occurs mostly in the winter to early spring while near the surface and in warm waters." These females give birth every 2 to 3 years and have a gestation period of about one year.
Habitat
"The blue whale is found in all major oceans of the world."
At this stop we will learn where the Blue Whale spends most of its life.
These whales prefer mostly cold and temperate waters. They are found mostly in deeper ocean waters rather then in coastal waters. Although these creatures do migrate, this is where the majority of its their lives are spent. These kinds of waters are all around the world including places like the Caribbean Sea and Icelandic waters.
This picture represents the distribution of Blue Whales throughout the Earth.
At this stop we will learn where the Blue Whale spends most of its life.
These whales prefer mostly cold and temperate waters. They are found mostly in deeper ocean waters rather then in coastal waters. Although these creatures do migrate, this is where the majority of its their lives are spent. These kinds of waters are all around the world including places like the Caribbean Sea and Icelandic waters.
This picture represents the distribution of Blue Whales throughout the Earth.
Social Groups
Stop seven will show us the social skills of our giant friends.
Most blue whales are observed in pairs. It is either a mother with its baby of a male and its mate. "By determining gender through DNA analysis, one study determined that paired adult blue whales are usually a male and a female." However some male whales have been seen with different female whales at different times. When these whales are found in groups they are most likely being friendly.
Most blue whales are observed in pairs. It is either a mother with its baby of a male and its mate. "By determining gender through DNA analysis, one study determined that paired adult blue whales are usually a male and a female." However some male whales have been seen with different female whales at different times. When these whales are found in groups they are most likely being friendly.
Death
Lastly, we will make one last stop in our journey through the life of a whale. We will experience their last days in the big blue.
Blue whales have only one known predator in the ocean. This predator is the Orca whale. "It is highly unlikely that they would ever attempt to take down an adult blue whale, do to the sheer difference of scale between the two whales." Most often baby whales are the ones that are killed. If not preyed upon, these mammals have a life expectancy of 35-40 years. Man is the only other threat that these whales face. Once lifeless, these whales provide sufficient meals for several other ocean creatures.
Orcas hunt in packs and prey upon the baby whales even when they are with their overbearing mothers.
Blue whales have only one known predator in the ocean. This predator is the Orca whale. "It is highly unlikely that they would ever attempt to take down an adult blue whale, do to the sheer difference of scale between the two whales." Most often baby whales are the ones that are killed. If not preyed upon, these mammals have a life expectancy of 35-40 years. Man is the only other threat that these whales face. Once lifeless, these whales provide sufficient meals for several other ocean creatures.
Orcas hunt in packs and prey upon the baby whales even when they are with their overbearing mothers.
Destination
We have now finished our field trip through the life of a blue whale. Now that you have learned all about the life of this amazing creature, I want to see what you have learned. Please write a description of why the blue whale is important to our planet and to the other creatures of the ocean. Why should we bother to save the blue whales? This description should be no less then one page and should show me how much you have learned from this site. Feel free to use quotes from the blog to make a point, if you wish.
I hope you have learned new information from our exciting field trip. I hope that someday you will take another tour through the life of another magnificent ocean dwelling creature.
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