How long does it take for a blue whale to reach maturity?
How long does it take for a blue whale to reach maturity?
10 years
They will reach reproductive maturity at 10 years of age. The whale’s estimated lifespan is between 80 and 90 years. Blue whales are federally listed as endangered.
How do blue whales attract mates?
How do Blue Whales Attract a Mate? Most often, Blue whales attract their mate through song. These mammals are among the loudest species on the planet, releasing a series of pulses, groans, or moans to communicate with other whales who can hear them from up to 1,000 miles away in good conditions.
How often do blue whales mate?
As large mammals with a gestation period of a year or more and another 5–6 months spent nursing newborn calves, whales generally breed once every 2 years.
How much food can a whale eat per day?
DIET AND BALEEN An average-sized humpback whale will eat 4,400-5,500 pounds (2000-2500 kg) of plankton, krill and small, schooling fish each day during the feeding season in cold waters (about 120 days). They eat twice a day.
What order are blue whales in?
Even-toed ungulates
TherapsidBoreoeutheria
Blue whale/Order
How do blue whales die?
Natural Causes. Cetaceans can simply die from old age. They can also die from predation from killer whales, polar bears or from sharks. This is especially prevalent in smaller species and calves of larger whales that are easy targets for the marine mammal predators.
Do whales have periods?
Unfortunately, few studies offer precise answers regarding the period of fertility in marine mammals, especially cetaceans. Nevertheless, some observations have been made. To date, only one comprehensive behavioural study of female cetaceans in estrus has ever been published.
How much poop does a blue whale produce?
Its poo is described as smelling like a dog’s, with the consistency of bread crumbs. A blue whale can excrete up to 200 litres of poo in one bowel movement.
Is blue whale vegetarian?
Carnivorous
Blue whale/Trophic level
What are the 7 classifications of a blue whale?
| Family | Balaenopteridae Gray, 1864 – rorquals |
| Genus | Balaenoptera Lacépède, 1804 – rorquals, finback whales, baleen whales |
| Species | Balaenoptera musculus (Linnaeus, 1758) – Blue Whale, Ballena azul, rorqual bleu |
| Direct Children: | |
| Subspecies | Balaenoptera musculus brevicauda Ichihara, 1966 – Pygmy Blue Whale |
What is the sister taxon to the blue whale?
Analysis of the mitochondrial gene cytochrome b determinded that artiodactyls and cetaceans are sister groups.
When does a blue whale reach sexual maturity?
For the blue whale the average gestation period is estimated to be around 10 – 12 months long. Sexual maturity also various by species with some whales maturing around 6 – 9 years of age while other mature closer to 10 – 15 years of age. The blue whale is believed to mature between 8 – 10 years of age. For more information on…
How old is a blue whale when it has a calf?
Females are mature at about 10 years and males are mature around 12 years of age. A female will have a calf every two or three years. The offspring are about 23 feet long at birth and can weigh up to three tons. Conservation Conservations efforts have been in place for the Blue Whale since the mid 1960’s. The numbers now are around 12,000.
How old are male whales when they mature?
Male whales are mature between 7 and 10 years of age. They have a cavity that their genitals remain in during resting and swimming so there isn’t a great deal that is known about them in great deal.
How big is a full grown blue whale?
Fast blue whale facts. Scientific name: Balaenoptera musculus. Phylum: Chordata. Family: Balaenopteridae. Classification: Mammal. IUCN status: Endangered. Lifespan (in wild): 80-90 years. Weight: More than 130,000kg. Body size: 30m long.
When does a female whale reach sexual maturity?
The female whale reaches sexual maturity at about six to 10 years of age, while males only become sexually mature when they are between 10 and 13 years old.
What’s the average gestation period of a blue whale?
For the blue whale the average gestation period is estimated to be around 10 – 12 months long. Sexual maturity also various by species with some whales maturing around 6 – 9 years of age while other mature closer to 10 – 15 years of age.
How old do whales have to be to have a calf?
Male whales are mature between 7 and 10 years of age. They have a cavity that their genitals remain in during resting and swimming so there isn’t a great deal that is known about them in great deal. For females maturity occurs about 5 to 7 years of age. A female that is mature will generally have a new calf every 2 or 3 years.
What makes a blue whale live so long?
Several factors can determine how long a blue whale is likely to live when it comes to age and longevity. Some of these factors include being hunted by humans (and rare killer whale attacks), food supply shortages, and the health of their food.