This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Di Stroppo (talk | contribs) at 19:55, 3 January 2002 (named Balaenoptera musculus ('little mouse')). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.
Revision as of 19:55, 3 January 2002 by Di Stroppo (talk | contribs) (named Balaenoptera musculus ('little mouse'))(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)The blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) belongs to the baleen whales suborder. It is the largest living animal, and the largest mammal ever to have lived on Earth. It was described by Linnaeus in 1758.
It is a filter-feeder, using its baleen to strain plankton out of the seawater and may reach 30 meters long and 150 tons.