Blue whales are living behemoths. Their size – which is the largest among all other living organisms in the animal kingdom – simply has to be seen to be believed.
How does life go on for creatures larger than dozens of elephants combined? In the sea, no less! If you think you’re an expert on these majestic mammals, take our blue whale quiz!
Questions
A blue whale is the loudest animal on Earth. While the sound from a jet plane can reach 140 decibels (dB), blue whales can be as loud as _________ dB.
A.188
B.218
C.238
D.278
What makes up the majority of a blue whale’s daily diet?
A.Algae
B.Sharks
C.Krill
D.Small fish
According to the IUCN, blue whales are…
A.vulnerable
B.endangered
C.extinct in the wild
D.near threatened
How large can the average blue whale grow over their lifetime?
A.10 to 16 meters
B.24 to 30 meters
C.42 to 44 meters
D.50 to 70 meters
Blue whales have the biggest _________ in the animal kingdom.
A.hearts
B.skeletons
C.babies
D.All of the above
Many blue whales are called “sulfur bottom” whales, because…
A.they have yellowish-colored undersides
B.their bottoms smell like sulfur
C.they feed on sulfur-rich plankton on the seafloor
D.they make the water below them look sulfur-yellow
Although blue whales tend to be underwater for 10-30 minutes at a time, they can stay submerged for up to…
A.35 minutes
B.90 minutes
C.3 hours
D.5 hours
To adapt to the cold temperatures of the ocean, over a quarter of a blue whale’s body is composed of…
A.blubber (fat)
B.muscles
C.heating pads
D.heart tissue
The dorsal fin of a blue whale is…
A.small, triangular and curved
B.large, triangular and straight
C.large, triangular and broad
D.small, cylindrical and curved
Scientists have discovered that all blue whales descend from…
A.sharks
B.squids
C.dinosaurs
D.land-living mammals
Blue whales tend to migrate to warmer waters to ________, and go to cold waters to _________.
A.breed, find food
B.find food, breed
C.find food, fight giant squid
D.breed, hunt dolphins
What is the average lifespan of a blue whale?
A.40-50 years
B.80-90 years
C.120-130 years
D.550-570 years
Instead of teeth, blue whales have bristly plates that help them filter large quantities of food from water. These bristles are known as…
A.Baleen
B.Balen
C.Balloon
D.Balheen
Through which organ do blue whales breathe?
A.Gills
B.Mouth
C.Tail
D.Blowhole
Blue whales typically give birth to ________ at a time.
A.one calf
B.2-3 calves
C.4-6 calves
D.9-11 calves