Fin Whale
Fin Whale
Mammal
Nicknamed the 'greyhound of the sea', the fin whale is the second-largest animal on Earth and one of the fastest of all the great whales.
💡 Fun Facts
- The second largest animal on Earth after the Blue Whale.
- Known as the 'greyhound of the sea' due to their sleek bodies and speed.
- They use baleen plates to filter food.
Name Story
Balaenoptera physalus
means “The finned whale that blows”
What does its name mean?
- Balaenoptera — finned whaleLatin balaena 'whale' + Greek pteron 'fin'
- physalus — blower, pufferGreek physa 'a blast of air, bellows'
The second-largest animal ever to live has a neat hooked fin on its back and sends up a tall, blustery spout of breath — a fin and a blow, both caught in its name.