Fin Whale: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Giants of the Deep · day 1 of 7

Five facts

1. The fin whale is nicknamed the greyhound of the sea. Speeds up to 46-50 km/h have been recorded.
2. A fin whale can eat up to 1,800 kg of food a day. That takes about three hours of feeding, roughly like humans.
3. A fin whale's heart weighs 130-290 kg and its liver 230-600 kg, among the biggest organs in the animal world.
4. Fin whales and blue whales hybridise. Hybrids with traits of both are known in the North Atlantic and North Pacific.
5. A fin whale breathes through two blowholes, and its spout can shoot 4 to 6 m into the air.

The quiz

1. What is the fin whale's nickname?

• The greyhound of the sea (correct)
• The wolf of the sea
• The cheetah of the deep
• The falcon of the waves

Its speed earned it the nickname the greyhound of the sea.

2. About how many hours a day does a fin whale spend feeding?

• About one
• About eight
• About three (correct)
• About twelve

It spends about three hours a day feeding, roughly like humans.

3. How much can a fin whale's heart weigh?

• 13-29 kg
• 130-290 kg (correct)
• 230-600 kg
• 1,800 kg

Its heart weighs 130-290 kg.

4. Which other whale can the fin whale hybridise with?

• The sperm whale
• The humpback whale
• The killer whale
• The blue whale (correct)

Fin whales and blue whales hybridise.

5. How many blowholes does a fin whale have?

• Two (correct)
• One
• Three
• Four

It has two blowholes, and its spout rises 4 to 6 m.

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