Quick answers
| Question | Answer | Scope | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| How much they weigh | Up to about 330,000 pounds, in the Antarctic. North Atlantic and North Pacific blue whales are smaller, at over 100,000 pounds. | Blue whales; figures differ by ocean | NOAA Fisheries | |
| How long they get | Up to about 110 feet in the Antarctic and about 90 feet in the North Atlantic and North Pacific. | Blue whales; figures differ by ocean | NOAA Fisheries | |
| What they eat | Krill, almost nothing else. The biggest whales may eat up to 6 tons of it a day. | Blue whales | NOAA Fisheries | |
| How long they live | An estimated 80 to 90 years. | Blue whales | NOAA Fisheries | |
| How fast they swim | About 5 mph normally, with short bursts above 20 mph. | Blue whales | NOAA Fisheries | |
| Where they live | Every ocean except the Arctic. | Blue whales | NOAA Fisheries | |
| How long pregnancy lasts | About 10 to 12 months, by NOAA's current estimate. | Blue whales | NOAA Fisheries | |
| When they can breed | Thought to be between 5 and 15 years of age. | Blue whales | NOAA Fisheries |
In the sources’ own words
How much they weigh
NOAA Fisheries, Blue Whale“…blue whales can grow up to about 90 feet and are over 100,000 pounds, but in the Antarctic, they can reach up to about 110 feet and weigh more than 330,000 pounds.”
Scope: Blue whales; figures differ by ocean
How long they get
NOAA Fisheries, Blue Whale“…blue whales can grow up to about 90 feet and are over 100,000 pounds, but in the Antarctic, they can reach up to about 110 feet and weigh more than 330,000 pounds.”
Scope: Blue whales; figures differ by ocean
What they eat
NOAA Fisheries, Blue Whale“They feed almost exclusively on krill…”
“Some of the biggest individuals may eat up to 6 tons of krill a day.”
Scope: Blue whales
How long they live
NOAA Fisheries, Blue Whale“Lifespan Estimated at around 80 to 90 years…”
Scope: Blue whales
How fast they swim
NOAA Fisheries, Blue Whale“…typically swim at about 5 miles an hour…”
“…can accelerate to more than 20 miles an hour for short bursts…”
Scope: Blue whales
Where they live
NOAA Fisheries, Blue Whale“Blue whales are found in all oceans except the Arctic Ocean.”
Scope: Blue whales
How long pregnancy lasts
NOAA Fisheries, Blue Whale“…the gestation period is approximately 10 to 12 months.”
Scope: Blue whales
When they can breed
NOAA Fisheries, Blue Whale“The age of sexual maturity is thought to be 5 to 15 years.”
Scope: Blue whales
What these sources do not say
- An exact record weight. NOAA gives rounded upper figures, and says scientists know little about blue whale life history.
- How the five subspecies differ in size, beyond the ocean-by-ocean figures above.