Blue Whale
Blue Whale
Mammal
The blue whale is the largest animal that has ever lived — bigger even than the mightiest dinosaurs — gliding through the open ocean and feeding on tiny shrimp-like krill.
💡 Fun Facts
- The largest animal to have ever lived, weighing up to 190,000 kg!
- A blue whale's tongue weighs as much as an elephant.
- They can consume up to 4 tons of krill a day.
Name Story
Balaenoptera musculus
means “The finned whale — 'little mouse'”
What does its name mean?
- Balaenoptera — finned whaleLatin balaena 'whale' + Greek pteron 'fin'
- musculus — little mouseLatin
Here is the biggest animal that has ever lived — longer than three buses — and yet its name means 'little mouse'. No one is quite sure why, which only makes the joke more delightful.