What Is The Biggest Whale? | Smithsonian Ocean

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4. What is the Largest Whale? A Cetacea Size Comparison Chart.

What is the Largest Whale? A Cetacea Size Comparison Chart.

How do right whales compare in size to other large marine mammals?

North Atlantic right whales (Eubalaena glacialis) are among the ocean's giants, with impressive dimensions that place them well within the ranks of large marine mammals. However, regarding the title of the "biggest whale," the blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) holds the crown. As the largest animal known to have ever existed on our planet, blue whales can reach lengths of up to 100 feet (approximately 30 meters), dwarfing other marine mammals in sheer size. Gray whales, not pictured, can reach up to 49 feet (14.9 meters). This size places them among the larger species of whales.

While Orcas (Orcinus orca), often called killer whales, are indeed formidable in size, with lengths of up to 31 feet (9.4 meters), they are technically the largest members of the dolphin family, rather than true whales. On another note, the Sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) boasts not the largest body but the biggest brain of any creature known to have lived on Earth, highlighting the diverse adaptations of these marine behemoths.

Tags: Whales Scientific illustrations April 2018