Blue Whales

Blue whales are gigantic mammals. They live in the ocean. They surface to breathe air above the water. Blue whales are noisy. They communicate by making deep sounds.

The blue whale has a large head and body. It breathes through two blowholes on top of its head. A blue whale’s body is spotted gray. Its face appears darker. Its flippers are light gray or white on the bottom.

Blue whales live in all of the oceans. They swim near coastlines. They also swim far out at sea. They migrate towards the equator in the winter.

Blue whales eat tiny creatures called krill. Blue whales are baleen whales. They don’t have teeth. They suck in water and krill. Then they push the water out through bristles. The bristles keep the food in the whales’ mouths.

Female blue whales usually have one baby at a time. A baby blue whale is called a calf. A calf drinks its mother's milk for seven months. Scientists believe some blue whales have lived as long as 110 years.