The blue whale’s heart is an extraordinary feat of nature. It’s the largest heart of any animal on Earth, weighing about 400 pounds (180 kg)—roughly the size of a small car! This heart powers the largest animal ever known to live, a creature that can grow up to 100 feet long and weigh as much as 200 tons.
When a blue whale dives, its heart rate slows down dramatically, sometimes beating as low as 2 beats per minute to conserve oxygen. At the surface, it speeds up to around 25–37 beats per minute to circulate oxygen more efficiently as the whale takes in air. Each beat of its heart pumps about 60 gallons (230 liters) of blood throughout its enormous body, supplying vital organs and massive muscles with oxygen and nutrients.
Fun Facts
- Aorta: Its main artery is large enough for a human child to crawl through!
- Heartbeat Sound: The heart’s beat is so powerful it can be detected from over two miles away.
- Efficiency: The heart’s slowing during deep dives is an adaptation that allows the whale to dive up to 1,000 feet for as long as 90 minutes.
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