Bashful Blue Whale
By: Nick Napolitano
Introduction
Have you ever wondered what the biggest non-extinct animal is? Many people ask themselves that. It is the Blue Whale. Some main topics about it is diet, movement,and body structure. The Blue Whale is a large and fun creature.
Movement
The Blue Whale’s movement is very interesting and fun to learn. Did you know their flukes or tails move in an up and down motion, unlike most fish that move the tail side to side? Plus the bashful Blue Whale can go 14-15 mph when feeding, 23 mph is average ,and 30 mph when threatened. They can also live to 85-90 years old. The Blue Whale also migrates to the Arctic During spring and summer. Similarly, during the winter and fall this creature goes to Antarctica.
Body Structure
The body structure of the Blue Whale is very complex and amazing. The Blue Whale can weigh up to 190 tons, that's as much as 24 adult elephants. The Male Blue Whale can only weigh 180 tons and the Female can weigh 190 tons. This is called Sexual Dimorphism. In the Southern Hemisphere, this magnificent creature can grow to 98 feet long. In the Northern Hemisphere, they can grow 89 feet. The Blue Whale has two blow holes unlike how must whales have 1. This beast is a mammal and an vertebrate. Even though it is called the Blue Whale it is more of a blueish-grey and the stomachs are white.
Diet
The diet of this creature is very important and keeps it alive. You’ll be shocked to learned that the Blue Whale eats 3,200 pounds of krill a day. Also, krill is the Blue Whale’s favorite food. Krill is like shrimp, but smaller and comes in bigger schools. This vertebrates throat is only 12 inches, so it cannot swallow a human. The gigantic whale tries to go where a lot of krill are. Once it finds a spot, it opens its mouth and eats. It’s mouth is like a filter, so if anything besides krill goes in gets spit out.
Closing
In conclusion, this colossal creature is very amazing and shocking. The body structure, diet, and movement is beautiful and exciting. But, the sad thing is this amazing animal is endangered. You can help prevent Blue Whale extinction. Save the Blue Whale!