Whale Sizes

Together with the porpoises and dolphins, whales are descendants of the order Artiodactyl, which are land-living mammals considered as even-toed ungulate creatures. They are highly interesting because of their massive sizes. They are divided into two main suborders, namely toothed whales and baleen whales. Just like other mammals, they are warm-blooded, breathe air into lungs and feed the young through mammary glands. Furthermore, it is also worthwhile to learn the different whale sizes.

The Sizes of Whales

The largest known species of whales is the blue whale or Balaenoptera musculus, which is also recognized as the biggest living mammal. This animal can grow up to 35 meters or 105 feet long and weighs as much as 150 tons. Another fascinating species is the bowhead whale or Balaena mysticetus, which grows at an average length of 20 meters or 66 feet. It can weigh as much as 136 tons.

Under the genus Eubalaena, the North Atlantic right whale or Eubalaena glacialis is another baleen whale, which grows at an average length of 11 to 17 meters or 35 to 55 feet and weighs up to70 tons. The biggest North Atlantic right whale ever recorded measured 18 meters or 60 feet long and weighed 117 tons. At birth, the calves under this species are usually 4 to 4.6 meters or 13 to 15 feet long.

Aside from the blue whale, there are other captivating whales under the genus Balaenoptera. One of these is the Antarctic Minke whale or Balaenoptera bonaerensis, the length of which varies from 7.2 to 10.7 meters or 23.62 to 35.10 feet. The average weight of this species is 5.8 to 9.1 tons. Newborns have an average length of 2.4 to 2.8 meters or 7.87 to 9.19 feet. Another whale under this species is the Sei whale, which is the third biggest rorqual next to the blue whale and fin whale. It grows at an average length of 20 meters or 66 feet and weighs as much as 50 tons.

Under the genus Megaptera, you can find the humpback whale or Megaptera novaeangliae, which is known for its unique body shape. The average length of adults is 12 to 16 meters or 39 to 52 feet. Under the genus Eschrichtius, there is the gray whale or Eschrichtius robustus. Aside from its distinct fighting behavior when hunted, it is known to grow up to 16 meters or 52 feet long. In addition, it can achieve a maximum weight of 36 tons. The pygmy right whale belongs to the genus Caperea, which is known scientifically as Caperea marginata. This species is considered the smallest baleen whale, which only grows from 4.0 to 6.5 meters or 13.12 to 21.33 feet long.