The Big Blue The Big Blue WhaleWhale

An Endangered An Endangered SpeciesSpecies

(Balaenoptera (Balaenoptera Musculus)Musculus)

By Nadia BerardelliBy Nadia Berardelli

The Body

Descritption

How Whales Live

Habitat

Having Babies

Noises

Cause of Decline

Research andRecovery

DescriptionDescription The blue whale is the biggest creature that has ever The blue whale is the biggest creature that has ever

lived on earth.lived on earth. They can grow to 100 feet long and weigh 150 tons.They can grow to 100 feet long and weigh 150 tons. The whales are mottled bluish-gray on their backs and The whales are mottled bluish-gray on their backs and

sides.sides. Female blue whales are a little bigger than the males.Female blue whales are a little bigger than the males.

The BodyThe Body

They have hundreds of baleen They have hundreds of baleen plates, instead of teeth in their plates, instead of teeth in their mouth.mouth.

It has as many as 88 folds of skin It has as many as 88 folds of skin in its throat.in its throat.

The skin is springy and smooth.The skin is springy and smooth.

How The Whale LivesHow The Whale Lives

Feed on krill and may consume several tons each Feed on krill and may consume several tons each dayday

Use their sense of hearing and their sense of touch Use their sense of hearing and their sense of touch to find their way around.to find their way around.

It is a mammal and breathes air, not water.It is a mammal and breathes air, not water. They can live for about 70 to 80 yearsThey can live for about 70 to 80 years

HabitatHabitat Whales migrate long Whales migrate long

distances between distances between equatorial wintering equatorial wintering grounds and high grounds and high latitude feeding areas.latitude feeding areas.

In summer they may be In summer they may be found across the Gulf of found across the Gulf of Alaska and in winter, off Alaska and in winter, off southern Californiasouthern California

Spend most their time Spend most their time along the edges of along the edges of continental shelves.continental shelves.

Having BabiesHaving Babies

Male and female whales mate in Male and female whales mate in winter and then part.winter and then part.

Babies are born about a year later.Babies are born about a year later. A baby whale is 23 feet long at A baby whale is 23 feet long at

birth.birth. They drink more than 150 gallons They drink more than 150 gallons

of milk a day.of milk a day.

NoisesNoises You can hear a You can hear a

whale’s blow, when whale’s blow, when it comes to the it comes to the water surface for air.water surface for air.

They communicate They communicate through a very low through a very low hum which can hum which can travel for thousands travel for thousands of miles through the of miles through the seas.seas.

Causes Of DeclineCauses Of Decline

Estimated 4,900 to 6,000 blue Estimated 4,900 to 6,000 blue whales inhabited the northern whales inhabited the northern Pacific Ocean prior to whaling.Pacific Ocean prior to whaling.

Between 1910 and 1966 ~ 8,200 Between 1910 and 1966 ~ 8,200 were killed in the North Pacific, were killed in the North Pacific, severely reducing the population.severely reducing the population.

The world population is estimated The world population is estimated at 8,000 to 12,000.at 8,000 to 12,000.

Research and RecoveryResearch and Recovery

Blue whales are protected by Blue whales are protected by several U.S. and several U.S. and international treaties and international treaties and agencies.agencies.

Whale sightings have Whale sightings have increased since the end of increased since the end of whaling.whaling.

Despite 50 years of Despite 50 years of protection, the population protection, the population has not recovered.has not recovered.

CreditsCreditsInformation and PicturesInformation and Pictures

http://mbgnet.mobot.org/salt/whale/http://mbgnet.mobot.org/salt/whale/blue.htmblue.htm

http://www.zoomwhales.com/subjects/http://www.zoomwhales.com/subjects/whales/species/bluewhale/Loudest.shtmlwhales/species/bluewhale/Loudest.shtml

http://www.rorqual.com/blue.htmhttp://www.rorqual.com/blue.htm http://www.acsonline.org/factpack/http://www.acsonline.org/factpack/

bluewhl.htmbluewhl.htm http://www.earthwindow.com/blue.htmlhttp://www.earthwindow.com/blue.html