Distribution

• live throughout all oceans of the world
• mainly off shore

Diet

• eat euphausiids (tiny plankton)

Description

• 25-26.5 meters in length
• weigh 100-120 tons
• 540-790 baleen plates
• plates are black and about one meter each
• 9 meter blow
• dark blue to gray in color
• small dorsal fin most of the way down back

Behavior

• mostly stick in groups of 1-2
• shallow dives
• communicate through the following:
  • breaching
  • lob tailing
  • moans
  • clicks
  • chirps
  • whistles

Population

• less than 5,000
• considered endangered

Longevity

• about 80 years

Human influence

• was once the most hunted creature on the earth
• whaled the most because it was thought that biggest was best

Other

• biggest animal on the earth