#Does a blue whale have any predators skin

They have twin blowholes that are shielded by a large splash guard and when they return to the surface after a dive they will release a 'blow', consisting of warm air, mucus and water, about 9m (30 ft) high into the air.īlue Whales can dive to depths of 200 m (655 ft) and when making a deep dive they will 'headstand' exposing their distinctive tail flukes above the surface of the water.

They are coloured blue/grey on their upper surface, with a mottled pattern, and are paler on their underside.

#Does a blue whale have any predators skin

They also have 55 - 68 skin grooves or pleats that are located on their underside and they run from their jaw to approximately half way along their body. Despite the size of their mouth, their throat dimensions will not allow them to swallow anything larger than the size of a beach ball.īlue Whales have a small dorsal fin located about three quarters of they way along their back and they have flippers that are 3 - 4 m (10 - 13 ft) in length. The tongue of a Blue Whale weighs around 2.7 tonnes (2.66 tons) and when their mouth is fully expanded it can hold up to 90 tonnes (88.6 tons) of food and water. These plates assist the whale with removing water from its mouth after feeding. From their top lip hang approximately 300 baleen plates that are around 1m (3.3 ft) long and they run approximately 0.5 m (1.6 ft) back into their mouth. They have long, tapering bodies and a flat, u-shaped head that has a prominent ridge running from the blow hole to the top of the upper lip. They reach lengths between 20 and 30 m (66 - 98 ft) and they weigh between 100 and 160 tonnes (98.5 - 157.5 tons). To listen to Blue Whale song in the Pacific,īlue Whales are the largest animal in the world. Our whale watching tours in Long Beach and Los Angeles give visitors the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to embark on a sea adventure! Our cruises give you front-row tickets to the coolest performance in the world – in addition to whales, you might see dolphins, sea lions, and other beautiful marine creatures.To listen to Blue Whale song in the Atlantic, With enough knowledge, consideration, and action, though, we can combat these dangers and help provide a cleaner, safer ocean for these animals.įor those wanting to catch a glimpse of whales up close and in the wild, visit Harbor Breeze in Southern California. Chemicals from oil spills and other disposed waste are extremely toxic for both whales and all sea life. Additionally, pollution is another leading cause of declining whale populations. Thankfully, though, this number has declined over time, for many countries have set regulations and restrictions that have outlawed whaling. Although not a natural predator, humans have practiced commercial whaling for hundreds of years. Unfortunately, there are also things that whales can’t protect themselves from. This allows them to protect the young in the middle while attacking with their tail from behind. If they feel threatened, though, whales will form a circle with their head facing inward, tail facing out. Again, by traveling in numbers, whales make it harder for sharks or orcas to target a specific member. So we know how whales defend themselves, but how do whales protect their young ? Well, whales protect their young similarly to how they’d protect themselves – by traveling in pods. Due to their size, whales reduce the risk of predation by traveling together. Traveling in groups (known as pods) is also another effective tactic. When being attacked, whales can thrash their tails around, both injuring and frightening their attacker.

These are especially true for larger whale species. However, the two primary tools of defense for whales are 1.) their tail and 2.) their size. For whales that are toothed, they can use their teeth to attack their prey and protect themselves from certain dangers. And as apex predators, these creatures are dangerous for just about any sea animal.Īs previously mentioned, whales have a few different tactics when it comes to defending themselves. Also known as killer whales, orcas aren’t really whales they’re actually the largest of the dolphin species. Aside from sharks, though, the only other animal that has been known to prey on whales is the orca. And although any whale is for the taking, whales that are young or sick are the most vulnerable since they are the easiest to target. However, there are a couple of sea creatures that have been known to prey on whales, with the most notable being sharks, particularly great whites. So, what eats whales ? You’d think that being so big whales wouldn’t have any natural predators – and they typically don’t. But how do they do it? And how effective are they? Well, before we begin, let’s first take a look at what actually eats whales.

As some of the largest animals on Earth, whales have a few different tricks up their sleeves when it comes to defending themselves.