A Heart as Big as a Human
The blue whale’s heart is the largest of any living animal, standing 1.5 meters (5 feet) tall and weighing over 200 kilograms (400 pounds). Its arteries are so large that a child could crawl through them. This powerful organ pumps 10 tons of blood throughout the whale’s body.
How It Keeps a Whale Alive
A blue whale’s heart rate drops to just 2–10 beats per minute during deep dives, helping it conserve oxygen. At the surface, it increases to 25–37 beats per minute. Unlike human hearts, its aorta expands and contracts slowly, allowing continuous blood flow even between heartbeats.
Targeted by Predators
Despite their massive size, blue whales are not safe from predators. In a recent observation, a dozen killer whales hunted and killed an adult blue whale off the coast of Australia. While they primarily consumed the tongue, scientists suspect they also fed on the nutrient-rich heart.
A Deep-Sea Feast After Death
When a blue whale dies, its body sinks to the ocean floor in an event known as a whale fall. Its heart and organs sustain deep-sea creatures for years, enriching the ecosystem with nutrients that support marine life.
The blue whale’s heart is the largest of any living animal, standing 1.5 meters (5 feet) tall and weighing over 200 kilograms (400 pounds). Its arteries are so large that a child could crawl through them. This powerful organ pumps 10 tons of blood throughout the whale’s body. pic.twitter.com/G8omYLMkKn
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