Point of interest
Blue whale skeleton
The skeleton of a young whale measures 14.6 metres.
Content language
The blue whale skeleton is 14.6 metres long, although it belonged to a young animal. Adults grow considerably larger. The museum specimen therefore represents a stage in the growth of this enormous mammal, rather than the maximum size of its species. The blue whale, Balaenoptera musculus, is a baleen whale. It is a mammal whose calves feed on milk. Its skeleton reveals the structure of an animal that is usually seen only in part as it surfaces.
Its main food is krill, tiny crustaceans. The whale takes in water containing a concentration of krill, then pushes the water out with its tongue. Baleen plates retain the food inside its mouth. A large predator does not necessarily hunt large prey. Living blue whales have elongated bodies and mottled blue-grey skin, which appears blue underwater. Individual patterns help researchers recognise particular whales. The skeleton reveals features that a photograph of the skin cannot show: the proportions of the bones remain visible without their covering of muscles and skin.
For children
14.6 metres is the length of this whale skeleton. The animal was still young. An adult blue whale can be much larger. It is a mammal, and its calves drink milk. The skeleton shows bones normally hidden beneath muscles and skin.
This giant mainly eats krill, small crustaceans. It takes in water along with them, then pushes the water out with its tongue. Plates called baleen keep the food inside its mouth. A blue whale has mottled blue-grey skin that looks blue underwater. Different patterns of markings help scientists recognise individual whales.
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