[179][183] They can consume 34,776–1,912,680 kJ (~480,000 kilocalories) from one mouthful of krill, which can provide up to 240 times more energy than used in a single lunge. The blue whale was once abundant in nearly all the oceans on Earth until the end of the 19th century. The Antarctic subspecies, B. m. intermedia [69] is found mostly south of the Antarctic Convergence Zone in austral summer, but spread widely from the Southern ocean to the equator in all oceans during the austral winter. The International Whaling Commission catch database estimates that 382,595 blue whales were caught between 1868 and 1978. However, it is thought that these whales should be split into eastern and western North Atlantic populations[62][268][269] based on photo-identification data. [250], Blue whales were referred to as 'Sibbald's rorqual', after Robert Sibbald, who first described the species. The Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus) prefer the deep ocean, rather than coastal waters or bays, and can be found living in any of the oceans located around the globe. [249] Herman Melville called the blue whale "sulphur bottom" in his novel Moby Dick[11] due to the accumulation of diatoms creating a yellowish appearance on their pale underside. [151], Chilean population In summer and fall, Chilean blue whales feed along the west coast of South America, particularly the Chiloense Ecoregion, including the Corcovado Gulf, Pacific and northwest coasts of Chiloé Island, and inner sea of Chiloe Archipelago. Northern subspecies (B. m. musculus) – Eastern North Pacific population: This population migrates annually to the U.S. West Coast in the summer and fall to feed. [103][154][155][157], Roughly 5,728 blue whales from the Chilean subspecies were killed by whalers in the Southeast Pacific,[304] 4,288 off Chile. Lawrence. Based upon the number of layers in the earwax, the age of the animal was determined to be seven years. [147], Whole genome sequencing of blue whales and other rorqual species suggests that blue whales are most closely related to sei whales with grey whales as a sister group,[263] which is curious given the most common hybrids are with fin whales. COSEWIC Status: Endangered [93][95], Northern Indian Ocean subspecies (B. m. indica): Although its taxonomic status is in flux, historical catches were taken from waters off Somalia and southern Arabia from May–October, and they are thought to then disperse to the east coast of Sri Lanka, west of the Maldives, the Indus Canyon, and the southern Indian Ocean in December–March. [196] Little is known about mating behavior, or breeding and birthing areas. This allows them to acquire the energy necessary for sustaining basic metabolic maintenance costs while storing additional energy necessary for migration and reproduction. [51][53][54][60], Northern subspecies (B. m. musculus) – Western and Central North Pacific population: Little is known about the migration of this population. Calves at birth can weigh up to two tonnes. Their reappearance off of Africa may be due to global warming. Northwest Atlantic blue whales are generally found in waters off eastern Canada: in the northern Gulf of St. Lawrence, off the coasts of Nova Scotia and Newfoundland, and in the Davis Strait. Blue whale ship strikes in the North Atlantic. [178] The water is then squeezed out through their baleen plates with pressure from the ventral pouch and tongue, and the remaining krill are swallowed. They have found that four of the six baleen whale species found in the western North Atlantic Ocean—humpback, sei, fin and blue whales—have changed their distribution patterns in … The blue whale is a rorqual whale—one of a group that has expanding grooves in the skin of the neck; these allow it to engulf huge volumes of water while feeding on krill. Blue whale. Lengthwise, the blue whale is equivalent to two city buses. Trouvez les Blue Whales images et les photos d’actualités parfaites sur Getty Images. ... Atlantic Ocean. 38 p. The blue whale is the largest animal on Earth today—and the largest known to have ever existed. Stock Footage of Blue whale underwater in Atlantic ocean, wildlife shot. Their more recent divergence has resulted the subspecies to have a relatively low genetic diversity,[265] and New Zealand blue whales have even lower genetic diversity. Antarctic subspecies (B. m. intermedia): Acoustic recordings indicate that this population is distributed around Antarctica and south of the Antarctic Convergence Zone in the summer, and then move into mid- and low-latitude habitats in fall and winter. In the North Atlantic, these marine mammals can be spotted off Newfoundland, the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, Nova Scotia, Greenland, the Azores, and Iceland. [293][294][295] In the western North Atlantic, there were an estimated 1,100–1,500 prior to modern whaling,[293][294] and in the eastern North Atlantic, estimates range from a "few thousand" to 10,000 blue whales in the Denmark Strait and 2,500 from northern Norway. The Northern Indian Ocean subspecies, B. m. indica [97] is found from Somalia to southern Arabia to the southwest coast of India, and off the coasts of Sri Lanka and the Maldives,[98] with an apparent breeding season six months out of phase from pygmy blue whales. [186][187], With the exception of diatoms (Cocconeis ceticola), which can create a yellowish sheen on individuals, and remoras (which feed on sloughed skin), external parasites and epibiotics are rare on blue whales. In the summer, this population migrates to their feeding grounds southwest of Kamchatka, south of the Aleutian Islands, to the Gulf of Alaska,[55][56] and to waters off Vancouver Island, Canada. Blue whale also displayed a high degree of genetic variability (i.e., heterozygosity).[263]. Molecular analyses of the whale showed that it was a hybrid between a female blue whale and a male fin whale, and that the fetus had a blue whale father. [182], Blue whales maximize the intake of energy by increasing the number of lunges they make during a dive while targeting dense krill patches. [204], For Antarctic blue whales, a single calf is born at 23 ft (7 m) in length and weighs 2.8-3 tons (2540–2722 kg). [301] estimated 671 (279–1613) pygmy blue whales from a line-transect survey of a small area off the southern coast of Australia. The third population, the western North Atlantic population, is the only population currently recognized in the North Atlantic. The minister responsible for the Parks Canada Agency (PCA) is the competent minister for individuals in the waters of Forillon National Park. [5][19] Hydrodynamic models suggest that a blue whale could not exceed 108 ft (33 m) due to metabolic and energy constraints. [295] Little is known about the population trends outside of the Gulf of St. Lawrence area. [44][233] The source level of blue whales off Chile in the 14 to 222 Hz band were estimated to be 188 dB re 1 μPa at 1 m,[233] 189 dB re 1 μPa at 1 m for Antarctic blue whales,[234] and 174 dB re 1 μPa at 1 m for pygmy blue whales.[90]. 58. Other accidental or opportunistic consumption of copepods and amphipods have been documented. [5][21][22], In the Northern Hemisphere, males weigh an average 100 tons (200,000 lb) and females 112 tons (224,000 lb). The mechanism behind modern whale migration is debated. The purpose of vocalization is unknown, but songs produced only by males appear to have a sexually related purpose, while "D-calls" and other non-repeating calls are produced during feeding by both sexes. Although reporting may not be comprehensive, there are no reports of ship strikes from any NAMMCO member countries and none have been reported in the IWC’s ship strike database. For more information, visit the Species at Risk (SARA) Public Registry Profile. The museum is also home to Phoenix, a 45 foot, 2,300 pound full-scale model of a female North Atlantic right whale that hangs in the Sant Ocean Hall. After seeing two Blue Whales on the June 2010 BBC trip to the continental shelf edge, I think your chances are still slim, but better than none. [281] Blue whale takes peaked in 1931 when over 29,000 blue whales were killed. [223] Southall et al. Stewardship initiatives are ongoing through partner organizations with the support of the Species at Risk Habitat Stewardship Program. [51][52] Acoustic recordings suggest that some individuals may remain on their feeding grounds[121][122][123] and on their breeding grounds year-round. Credit: Adapted from Sears, R. and J. Calambokidis. [305] The minimum pre-exploitation abundance was estimated at 1,500–5,000. Since blue whales are regularly found in the Saguenay–St. The blue whale's fame stems from the fact that it is currently the largest animal on Earth. This campaign is targeted at marine wildlife observation tour operators. Since the end of commercial whaling, blue whales remain threatened by human activity. [134] The most recent estimate is between 1,000 and 2,000[297] off the east coast of Greenland, Denmark Strait, Iceland, Jan Mayen, Faroe Islands, west coast of Ireland, and north of the United Kingdom. [174] This allows them to engulf a large volume of krill-laden water,[175][176][177] up to 220 tons of water at one time. There is reference to a "well-documented" humpback-blue whale hybrid in the South Pacific, attributed to marine biologist Dr. Michael Poole,[10][212] however no published proof exists. [85][86][87][88][89] Acoustic data indicate that they are distributed in the sub-Antarctic waters of the southern Indian Ocean in summer and fall, including near the Crozet Islands and Amsterdam Island. Smart News Keeping you current Scientists Eavesdrop on New Population of Blue Whales Singing in the Indian Ocean Scientists have identified a previously unknown blue whale … [54][70][71][72][73][74][75][76][77][78][79][80][136] Antarctic blue whale calls have been acoustically detected in the Eastern Tropical Pacific in May–September. Despite having the greatest haplotype diversity of any subspecies,[270] the Antarctic subspecies of blue whales is recognized as one stock for management purposes. Whales are an important indicator of oceanic health. Blue whales inhabit most of the world's major oceans like the Antarctic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, and the Indian Ocean. Given historical catches, pre-exploitation abundance estimates must have been at least 7,598 individuals for the Madagascar population, and 2,900 individuals for the Australia/Indonesia population. [72] Most migrate annually; however, year-round acoustic detections near the West Antarctic Peninsula,[71][137] the Weddell Sea and along the Greenwich meridian,[138] eastern Antarctica,[73][137] and year-round catches around South Georgia[139][140] suggest a small portion may remain in Antarctica year-round. [43][44][45], The distributions of the five subspecies of blue whale are outlined below. [213] In 1983 a 65 ft (19.8 m) long male specimen taken was 65 ft long and sexually immature. [264] The Australian pygmy blue whale diverged during the Last Glacial Maximum. Eastern North Pacific blue whale males average 88.5 tons (177,000 lb) and females 100 tons (200,000 lb). Blue Whale (Atlantic population) Rorqual bleu (Population de l’Atlantique) Jurisdictions: Atlantic Ocean : Current COSEWIC Assessment: Status category: XT E T SC : Date of last assessment: May 2002 : Reason for designation at last assessment: Whaling reduced the original population. Because blue whales are classed as a "Protection Stock" by the International Whaling Commission, trading their meat is illegal, and the kill is an infraction that must be reported. Blue whales were initially tough to hunt because of their size and speed. Vocalizations produced by the Eastern North Pacific population have been well studied. Molecular analyses revealed a blue whale mother and a fin whale father. Kato et al. Whale Release and Strandings encourages fish harvesters in Newfoundland and Labrador to report blue whale sightings, and educates school children and the general public about blue whales through school presentations and a variety of community events. In addition, the ovaries of female blue whales form a permanent record of the number of ovulations (or perhaps pregnancies), in the form of corpora albicantia. There are no direct measurements of the hearing sensitivity of blue whales. [164][165] Blue whales feed on krill at the surface and at depths greater than 328 ft (100 m), following their prey's diel vertical migration through the water column. Lagerquist et al. [285] The global blue whale population abundance is estimated to be 10,000–25,000 blue whales, roughly 3–11% of the population size estimated in 1911. The reported take of all North Pacific blue whales by commercial whalers totaled 9,773 between 1905 and 1977.[267]. Committee on the status of endangered species in Canada. Petition: Startling Animation Shows Blue Whale Dodging Ocean Traffic. [102][103] In Australia, blue whales and pygmy blue whales can be seen from March through May in the Perth Canyon,[104] and in Bass Strait between Victoria and Tasmania from November to May. Around the Azores, the best chance to see blue whales is February to March. [18] Female blue whales are larger than males. To celebrate the wonder of whales, learn how our … Antarctic males averaged 112 tons (224,000 lb) and females 130 tons (260,000 lb). In Newfoundland and Labrador, Fisheries and Oceans Canada researchers are using autonomous acoustic recorders to monitor the presence of blue whales throughout the year in locations where they have been sighted most frequently. The greatest dive depth reported from tagged blue whales was 315 meters. This population produces long-duration, low frequency pulses ("A") and tonal calls ("B"), upswept tones that precede type B calls ("C"), moderate-duration downswept tones ("D"), and variable amplitude-modulated and frequency-modulated sounds. They have also produced educational materials for public outreach and education on blue whales and other marine mammals. [86][141], Pygmy subspecies (B. m. brevicauda) – Madagascar population: This population is found off the Seychelles and Amirante Islands, through the Mozambique Channel to the Crozet Islands and Prince Edward Islands in the spring and summer, with a nearly continuous distribution in sub-Antarctic waters in the Indian Ocean in the summer. The amount of milk transferred from mother to calf has not been measured. At least 1,500 blue whales were killed before the 1960s in the waters of eastern Canada. They reside in temperate and cold water regions. Researchers tracked a whale moving through a busy gulf surrounded by ship traffic. Join us as we celebrate Whale Week, February 16–20, 2021, leading up to World Whale Day on February 21, 2021. [149][150] However, the Sri Lanka call has not been detected west of Sri Lanka, and there is another call type in the western North Indian Ocean, off Oman and north-western Madagascar, termed the Oman call[151] suggesting a central Indian Ocean population. [281] The Soviet Union continued to illegally hunt blue whales in the Northern and Southern Hemisphere through to 1973,[91][282][283][284] and Spanish vessels caught occasional blue whales up until 1978. Disturbance caused by whale-watching activities. A fin whale in waters off Pico Island, in the Azores, Atlantic Ocean. Status of the blue whale, Balaenoptera musculus, in Canada. Despite its name, the blue whale is actually coloured dark and light grey; every whale has a unique pattern of markings on their skin, called mottling. [195] They are generally solitary or found in small groups. [257] The phylogeny of the blue whales is still debated because their placement varies depending on the molecular markers and phylogenetic analysis used. Blue whales in the Estuary and the Gulf of St. Lawrence and their habitat are the subject of research carried out by Fisheries and Oceans Canada in collaboration with the Mingan Island Cetacean Study and the Groupe de recherche et d’éducation sur les mammifères marins (GREMM). Welcome to Atlantic Whales, an on-line catalogue of whale sightings in the northwest Atlantic Ocean. [130] In the Eastern North Atlantic, blue whales have been documented south of the Azores[131] and off northwest Africa in the winter,[132] in the Azores in late spring,[133] and in Iceland in the summer. [298] The best abundance estimate for Antarctic blue whales is 2,280 individuals (CV=0.36) based on the International Whaling Commission International Decade of Cetacean Research and the Southern Ocean Whale Ecosystem Research (SOWER) annual summer surveys from 1991/92 through 2003/04, which covered 99.7% of the area between the pack ice and 60° S.[299] The population is estimated to be increasing, at a rate of 7.3% per year (95% CI=1.4–11.6%) but the most recent abundance estimate is less than 1% of pre-exploitation levels,[298] although if population growth has continued at 7.3% per year, there may now be as many as 10,000 individuals. The production of vocalizations may vary by region, season, behavior, and time of day. It also aims at locating and mapping krill concentration areas which are important feeding grounds for blue whales. [190] Male pygmy blue whales averaged 61.4 ft (18.7 m) at sexual maturity. [53][157], Data from individual satellite tagged Eastern North Pacific blue whales suggest leisurely traveling rates of 4 knots, or 4.6 mph (7.41 km/h),[158] with a minimum average speed of 1.55 ± 1.68 mph (2.49 ± 2.7 km/h). [3][5][10], The blue whale is the largest known animal ever. They have found that four of the six baleen whale species found in the western North Atlantic Ocean—humpback, sei, fin and blue whales—have changed their distribution patterns in … [303], The Chilean blue whale is found in the southeastern Pacific Ocean, especially the Chiloé-Corcovado region,[21][103] and lower latitude areas including Peru, the Galapagos Islands and the southern portions of the Eastern Tropical Pacific. Blue whales are formally classified as endangered under the Endangered Species Act[386] and considered depleted and strategic under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Closed population models for the same feeding grounds in 2012 estimate 762 (95% CI=638–933) and 570 (95% CI=475–705) for photographs of left and right sides of the animals, respectively.[307]. [381][382] From 1866 to 1978, more than 380,000 blue whales were taken, mostly from Antarctic waters. [172][176][179] Blue whales have been recorded making 180° rolls during lunge-feeding, allowing them to engulf krill patches while inverted; and they rolled while searching for prey between lunges, which has been hypothesized as allowing them to visually process the prey field to find the densest prey patches. They may also be seen off San Diego, CA in July and August, and off Baja California Sur, Mexico and in the Sea of Cortez from January through March. [198] Blue whale anatomy, specifically a small testis-to-body weight ratio[199] and documented visual observations of a second male joining the traveling pair,[200] suggest a polygynous, antagonistic male-male competition strategy. The purpose of this site is to collect scientifically useful information about this region's whales so this data is available to researchers — and whale enthusiasts — around the world. Blue Whale Profile. Reaching a maximum confirmed length of 29.9 meters (98 feet) and weight of 173 tonnes (190 tons), it is the largest animal known to have ever existed. Ottawa. The Blue whale is a rorqual whale—one of a group that has expanding grooves in the skin of the neck; these allow it to take in huge volumes of water while feeding. [29] In pygmy blue whales, one corpus albicans is formed every 2.6 years on average,[28] which matches the two- to three-year interval between calves. [147] An acoustic boundary between the Western Australia/Indonesia population and the Eastern Australia/New Zealand population has been identified as the junction of the Indian and Pacific Oceans.[96][100]. [25][26][27] The maximum age determined from earplug laminae for a pygmy whale is 73 years (n=1133). Northwest Atlantic blue whales are generally found in waters off eastern Canada: in the northern Gulf of St. Lawrence, off the coasts of Nova Scotia and Newfoundland, and in the Davis Strait. [218] Blue-fin hybrids have also been detected from genetic analysis of whale meat samples taken from Japanese markets.[219]. [214] In 1986, a 70 ft (21.3 m) pregnant female whale was caught. [211] Additional videos of blue whale calves nursing have been captured by drones, including off Dana Point, CA and off the South Coast of Sri Lanka. 2006, Sama-ran et al. Whales live in all the world’s oceans, communicating through complex and beautiful sounds. [47] One of the first published descriptions of a blue whale comes from Robert Sibbald's Phalainologia Nova,[249] after Sibbald found a stranded whale in the estuary of the Firth of Forth in 1692. The Norwegian scientist G. O. Sars adopted it as the common name in 1874. A blue whale in Chile was caught on animation through a new study. [103][102][152][153] The whales then migrate to lower latitude areas including the Galapagos Islands and the Eastern Tropical Pacific. [167][241][242] Because the calls have also been recorded from blue whale trios from in a putative reproductive context, it has been recently suggested that this call has different functions. A recovery strategy has been developed for this species with the long term goal of reaching a population of at least 1,000 mature blue whales. [56][60] The Eastern North Pacific population migrates in the winter to their breeding grounds in the Gulf of California[7][52][120] and the Costa Rica Dome in the Eastern Tropical Pacific. [53][54][70][71][72][73][74][75][76][77][78][79][80][81], 3. 2013). In Quebec, GREMM and the Réseau d’observation des mammifères marins have been conducting outreach for several years to promote best practices for whale watching. NOAA Fisheries mobilized a team of large whale disentanglement experts, in coordination with partners from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Blue World Research Institute, Marine Resource Council and Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute. [44] Large-scale takes did not begin until 1864, when the Norwegian Svend Foyn invented the exploding harpoon gun and by using them with steam and diesel-powered ships. They usually migrate south for the winter, but some whales may remain at our latitudes all year long. [233][277][278] Chilean blue whales may overlap in the Eastern Tropical Pacific with Antarctica blue whales and Eastern North Pacific blue whales. Blue whale milk contains 18 megajoules (MJ) per kg, which is roughly 4,302 Kilocalorie/kg. By 200 metres deep, only a very faint blue light is left. [179] Energetic models have estimated that the daily prey biomass requirement for an average-sized blue whale is 1,120 ± 359 kg krill. [179] The deepest confirmed dive from a pygmy blue whale was 1,660 ft (506 m). It belongs to the mammal family. It has a smallish dorsal fin and pointed pectoral flippers. Additionally, only one blue whale call type has been recorded in the Southern Ocean,[74][77][137][271] and mark-recapture data suggests movements of individuals entirely around the Antarctic. A fin whale in waters off Pico Island, in the Azores, Atlantic Ocean. [228][229][230][231] Their vocalizations are also predominantly low frequency; thus, their hearing is presumably best at detecting those frequency ranges. [74][245], At least seven blue whale song types have been shifting linearly downward in tonal frequency over time, though at different rates.[246][247][248]. [142] Vocalizations have been recorded north near Diego Garcia in May–July,[143] in the Mozambique Channel in November–December[144] and Madagascar Basin south of La Reunion Island in March–June,[80] southwest of Amsterdam Island in December–May,[80] off Crozet Island in December–June. There are not many records of blue whale ship strikes in the Atlantic Ocean. Lawrence Marine Park in Canada. In the Southern Hemisphere, blue whales can be seen in Gulf of Corcovado between Guaitecas Archipelago, Chiloé Island, and the Chilean mainland, and off the west coast of Chiloe Island from December through March. A single whale can consume as much as four tonnes in a day. The global blue whale population has reduced significantly within the last century mainly due to hunting. Additionally, GREMM coordinates the actions of the Marine Mammal Emergency Response Network to implement measures to save animals in trouble in the waters of the St. Lawrence bordering the province of Quebec. [105] In New Zealand, blue whales and pygmy blue whales may be seen in Kaikōura on the South Island between July and August.[106]. [15][114] There is a 6–8 month weaning period until the calf is 53 ft (16 m) in length.[15][5][114][189][200][205][206]. That would translate to 2.79 ± 0.86 mph (4.5 ± 1.39 km/h), ranging from 1.5 to 4.45 mph (2.42–7.17 km/h). [159] With additional satellite tagged animals (n=10),[52] reported mean swim speeds of 108 ± 33.3 km/day, ranging 58–172 km/day. [232] estimated the hearing range of cetaceans to extend from approximately 7 Hz to 22 kHz. [41][42], The five blue whale subspecies recognized by the Society for Marine Mammalogy's Committee on Taxonomy[43][44] are distributed in all major ocean basins, except the Bering Sea and the Arctic Ocean, although blue whales have been sighted near the ice edge in the North Atlantic. In the Indian Ocean, blue whales can be seen off Mirissa, Sri Lanka in March and April. The Minister of Fisheries and Oceans is a “competent minister” for aquatic species under the Species at Risk Act (SARA). The recordings were made over 10 years by devices moored to the seafloor at nearly 300 locations from the Caribbean Sea to western Greenland. The global blue whale population is estimated to be 10,000–25,000, roughly 3–11% of the population size estimated in 1911. [107][108][109] Migration may function to reduce parasitism, pathogens, and competition,[110][111] provide greater access to prey in the spring and summer, reduce calf predation from orcas, and optimize thermoregulation for growth in the winter. [28][59][188][200][201][202] Pygmy blue whales were estimated to give birth every 2.6 years (95% CI=2.2–3.0). Report to the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC). [86][145], Pygmy subspecies (B. m. brevicauda) – Eastern Australia/New Zealand population: Data from strandings, sightings, and acoustic detections suggest that this population is present in New Zealand waters nearly year-round. Pygmy blue whale males average 83.5 (167,000 lb) and 99 tons (198,000 lb). Blue whales are therefore regularly observed in areas where krill is concentrated. [21][101][22], Blue whales exhibit no well-defined social structure[194] other than mother-calf bonds from birth until weaning. They have found that four of the six baleen whale species found in the western North Atlantic Ocean — humpback, sei, fin and blue whales — have changed their distribution patterns in the past decade. Learn more about this sea mammal with our North Atlantic Right Whale fact guide. The purpose of this site is to collect scientifically useful information about this region's whales so this data is available to researchers — and whale enthusiasts — around the world. Northern Indian Ocean blue whales may be separated into one or more populations as songs are collected from more areas in this region. [129] Researchers speculate that there may be between 400 and 1,500 individuals. [243] The blue whale call recorded off Madagascar, a two‐unit phrase,[244] starts with 5–7 pulses with a center frequency of 35.1 ± 0.7 Hz and duration of 4.4 ± 0.5 s followed by a 35 ± 0 Hz tone lasting 10.9 ± 1.1 s.[243] In the Southern Ocean, blue whales calls last roughly 18 seconds and consist of a 9-s-long, 27 Hz tone, followed by a 1-s downsweep to 19 Hz, and another downsweep to 18 Hz. [310][387] The International Union for Conservation of Nature[388] has listed blue whales as endangered. Evidence suggesting that blue whales off the Chilean coast are a separate subspecies includes discrete geographic separation (latitudinally from Antarctic blue whales and longitudinally from pygmy blue whales), a difference in the mean length of mature females,[21][22] significant genetic differentiation,[21][154][270][276] and unique song types. [215] Two live blue-fin whale hybrids have since been documented in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Canada and in the Azores (Portugal). The blue whale has a global distribution, being found in the Arctic Sea, Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean Advertisement Share or comment on this article: [80][90] Like the Madagascar population, this population's distribution remains north of 52°S. The blue whale is a wonderful marine creature that is mostly found in the Antarctic Ocean, North Atlantic, North & South Pacific, and the Indian Ocean. Explore similar videos at Adobe Stock Explore similar videos at Adobe Stock Sales: 800-685-3602 1998, McDonald et al. [103][154][155] Acoustic recordings in the Eastern Tropical Pacific may be year-round but generally peak in June[156] and are infrequently detected from September to March. https://us.whales.org/whales-dolphins/species-guide/blue-whale