Blue whales are the largest creatures on Earth weighing up to 200 tons (181 metric tons), and a blue whale’s tongue weighs over two tons (2000 kg) or approximately the same weight as an elephant. The large mammal mainly eats krill, a sea creature similar to shrimp, and has been found to consume up to 4 tons (3.6 metric tons) of krill per day. In addition to being the largest mammal, blue whales are the loudest--the noises they use to communicate with one another have been found to travel over 1,000 miles (1,600 km) and measure 188 decibels, louder than a jet.
More about the blue whale:
- There are only around 9,000 blue whales in existence and the species is considered endangered after an estimated 360,000 were slaughtered from 1900 through the 1960s.
- The blue whale’s heart is around the size of a small car.
- At birth, the blue whale weighs around 6,000 pounds (2,700 kg) and gains weight at a rate of around 200 pounds (91 kilograms) each day until it reaches the age of one.
