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For an animal that may be either smaller than some shark species or the largest animal in the entire world, it can be difficult to understand just how big different types of whales are – that’s where the guide to whale size comparisons comes in. comfortable.
From whales the size of three school buses to whales not much larger than your average person, we’ve created this complete guide to show you how big some of the largest (and smallest) whales are compared to each other as well as average. human.
How big are whales?
As for whales in general, they are quite varied in size. Whales can be as small as 8.5 feet and about 300 pounds, or nearly 100 feet and weigh over 160 tons. They also hold many records, including the largest toothed predator and the largest animal in history.
Each whale is unique in its own way and is very different from other whales. However, when you are trying to decide which of the whales is larger, it can be difficult to comprehend such a diverse animal.
This whale size comparison guide is designed to help you understand how large different types of whales are compared to each other and even to humans.
Blue whale size
Just as there are many different types of whales, there are also several subspecies of blue whales. In recent years, there has been a debate about what exactly makes a blue whale a blue whale, and this debate continues today. However, at the time of writing this whale size comparison, there are currently five recognized subspecies. This includes
- Antarctic blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus intermedia)
- Blue whales of the North Atlantic and North Pacific Ocean (Balaenoptera musculus musculus)
- Dwarf blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus brevicauda)
- Blue whales of the northern Indian Ocean (Balaenoptera musculus indica)
- South Pacific blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus nameless view).
Antarctic blue whales are not just the largest blue whale or even the largest whale – they are the largest animal in the entire world! They are even larger than most of the dinosaurs we know. They are known to have weighed up to 330,000 pounds (165 tons), which is more than the entire Statue of Liberty. The largest blue whale ever recorded weighed 418,878 pounds!
However, the dwarf blue whale is the smallest blue whale. However, at almost 80 feet in length, it is still one of the largest animals in the world! They weigh about 116,000 pounds, which is roughly 58 tons.
Sperm whale size
While sperm whales may not be the largest animal in the world, they are the largest toothed predators and come in a wide variety of sizes.
Three types of sperm whales are still alive in the sperm whale family, although not all are of the same genus. This includes the sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) as well as the pygmy sperm whale (Kogia breviceps) and pygmy sperm whale (Kogia Shima).
The largest sperm whales can reach 68 feet in length and weigh over 174,000 pounds. In contrast, the pygmy sperm whale reaches a size of only 11 feet and about 900 pounds. The pygmy sperm whale, which is the smallest in this family, reaches only about 9 feet and will not weigh more than 600 pounds.
It can take up to 290 pygmy sperm whales to equal the weight of a typical sperm whale, which weighs about the same as two 18-wheeled transport trucks.
Most of the size and weight of sperm whales comes from their head, which can make up 33 percent of their body. In fact, this is what the name of their species means: “macro” refers to the large size, and “cephalus” refers to the head.
Humpback whale size
Whale watchers know this whale well. Known for their breaks and other eye-catching surface antics, humpback whales are one of the most famous whale species. It is also one of the largest whales outside of the blue whale family.
Surprisingly, female humpback whales are slightly larger than their male counterparts – not unheard of, but rare among mammals. The largest ever discovered so far has a total length of 62 feet – 8 times the average artificial Christmas tree. Her pectoral fins alone were 20 feet long, or half the length of a telephone pole.
However, on average, the maximum length of humpback whales ranges from 46 to 52 feet. They can reach an average maximum weight of 80,000 pounds, which is about the weight of a fire engine.
Killer whale size
The killer whale is another big-toothed predator, although it is not nearly as big as the sperm whale. Males are larger than females, usually only growing to 26 feet in length and weighing up to 12,000 pounds. This weight, which is slightly less than a helicopter, makes them 13 times larger than a pygmy sperm whale.
The largest killer whale ever recorded weighed about 22,000 pounds and was 32 feet long!
The dorsal fins of male killer whales are nearly double that of females and can reach 5.9 feet in height. This means that if you were to stand on their back, their dorsal fin would probably be taller than you!
Comparison of human and whale sizes
So how can these whales compare to humans?
Even next to one of
t
he smallest whales, the pygmy sperm whale, people still cannot compare. Even at the bottom of their size range, these whales range from 8 to 8.5 feet in length and weigh 400 pounds. The tallest living person, Sultan Kösen, is just 8.2 feet tall for reference and weighs only about 300 pounds.
As for the Antarctic blue whale, its heart is large enough for a person to live in it. Their hearts can weigh up to 400 pounds (like a small sperm whale) and can be the size of a bumper car. Many museums even have replicas that people can crawl and explore.
Humpback whales have some of the largest pectoral fins in the sea. At about 20 feet long, they are nearly 4 times the height of the average human. Although you don’t have to worry too much about them swallowing you whole, because at rest, their throat is about the size of your fist, and it can’t be much larger than that.
Although killer whales may not have the largest teeth in the ocean, their teeth can still grow to about 3 inches in length. The average person is only 0.4 inches tall, which makes a killer whale’s teeth nearly ten times longer.
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