Anyone who is even slightly interested in biology, we know that the blue whale - the largest whale in the world.Photos and videos, which show this marine mammal, always attract spectators.After all, the blue - not only the largest whale.He - the largest animal now existing on Earth.Some paleontologists argue that it - even the largest animal ever existing on our planet.Even in the era of the giant reptile it was not the body exceeds its size and weight.
largest whale, of course, has to be a holder of record on the part of all "very, very."And he did not disappoint.So, the list of records of a blue whale: the most difficult language in the world (up to four tonnes), the largest amount of light (more than three thousand liters).Moreover, according to some estimates (although clearly overpriced), the amount of light reaches fourteen thousand liters ... Let's go further: the highest number of blood - to eight thousand liters, the biggest heart - about a ton in the largest specimens.Pulse whale at rest - five to seven beats per minute, and only after the dive, he quickens to twelve.
One minute the blue whale is doing no more than four breaths.It has the largest amount of blood vessels: the cross-section of dorsal aorta reaches a diameter of forty centimeters.Add to this a huge amount of fat (blubber), the total mass of which is a quarter of the weight of the animal (and even a bit more).According to the whalers, they came across a mass of whales in the 180-190 tons.But there is still a little bit, most animals do not grow to such enormous proportions.And though after reaching a record low of livestock blue whale (five thousand) in the mid-sixties of the last century, the case, thanks to conservation measures went smoothly, its population is now about ten thousand, which is much less than a hundred to a hundred and fifty yearsago.Big whale still needs a lot of protection.And this can not be neglected.
However, the biggest whale never ceases to amaze some of the structural features of the body that are not unique to the giant, and the animal, or even medium-small size.For example, sip a blue whale has a diameter of only ten centimeters ...!Therefore, he can not swallow food larger.The largest whale has a diet that consists of the smallest ocean dwellers, primarily from the plankton.Along the way, he can swallow and another little thing, happened to be nearby.In the stomachs of blue whales is a small squid and fish.In order to prevent the throat of large animals, whale sea water percolates through the "whalebone" - several rows of horny plates.
blue whales multiply slowly.The female bears offspring eleven months and may bring one or two cubs.Percentage birth of twins - no more than one.The size of a newborn little whale - seven to eight meters, and weight - two to three tons.The female feeds the little whale milk until the age of seven months, and every day it gets ninety liters of culture fluid.Another record!
Since 1966, fishing of blue giants banned worldwide.But their population is growing very slowly.And it is not in the hunt for them.Much more influenced by pollution.Falls into the ocean petroleum products accumulate in the body of female blue whale, and then transferred to the young, which is detrimental to their health.Despite the increase in the number of marine mammals, the existence of species is still endangered.
