Hobbies And Interests
Size
Of the three whale species blue whales reach the largest size, growing to lengths of 82 to 105 feet, according to National Geographic. Blue whales in the Southern Hemisphere tend to be larger than those in the Northern Hemisphere with females larger than males. Blue whales weigh in excess of 100 tons. By comparison, right whales measure 45 to 55 feet and weigh up to 70 tons with the females being larger. For sperm whales the males are considerably larger than the females. Male sperm whales grow to lengths of 52 feet while females will average 36 feet. Males weigh 45 tons while females average 15 tons.
Populations
Whales have been hunted over the last 200 years and their numbers have been reduced. Although hunting of whales is now outlawed the effects of population decreases continue. Estimated populations of blue whales prior to hunting numbered 350,000. Today 5,000 to 10,000 blue whales live in the Southern Hemisphere and 3,000 to 4,000 live in the Northern Hemisphere. Right whales remain the rarest of the species with 300 to 400 in the North Atlantic. Sperm whales have the largest populations with estimates ranging from 200,000 to 1,500,000.
Habitats
All three species inhabit oceans around the world. Sperm whales tend to stay in deep waters and are rarely found in water less than 300 meters, or 984 feet. By contrast, right whales tend to inhabit shallower waters along the coast. Blue whales can be found in any waters and migrate from tropical to temperate waters for mating and giving birth.
Features
Blue whales have long tapered bodies with the head being less than one-fourth of the length. The fin is small and located approximately three-fourths of the way from the head to the tail. Right whales are normally black with a stocky body and no dorsal fin. Sperm whales are dark gray with very large heads and a small dorsal fin.