Why Is a Blue Whale So Huge?

What Crafty Clover says in this video

Intro

Hey there, curious minds! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. Why is a blue whale so huge?

The Big Idea

The blue whale is the largest animal that has ever lived. Ocean water holds up its body, so it does not have to carry all that weight like a land animal would. And its food comes in giant clouds of tiny shrimplike animals called krill.

A Krill Cloud Gathers

Step one: a cloud of krill gathers. Krill are tiny, shrimplike animals, and they swarm together in huge clouds. A thick swarm is a big meal in one spot.

The Whale Opens Wide

Step two: the whale opens wide. It lunges forward with its mouth open, and its throat pouch stretches out. One gulp can take in a huge amount of water and krill.

Baleen Strains Krill

Step three: baleen strains the krill. The whale pushes the water out through its baleen, which works like a giant comb. The krill stay trapped inside, and the whale swallows them. A blue whale can eat tons of krill a day!

A Closer Look

Let's take a closer look at the size of a blue whale! A blue whale can be nearly 100 feet long. That is as long as 2 or 3 school buses! And all that size runs on a cloud of tiny krill.

Quick Facts

Quick facts! A blue whale's heart weighs about as much as a piano. It can eat up to 4 tons of krill in a day. Its tongue can weigh as much as an elephant. Size is no reason to crowd an animal, so look from a distance.

Think Like a Scientist

Now, think like a scientist! Float a toy in a tub of water, then lift it out. Does it feel heavier in the air? Water holds things up, and that helps a whale be big. Why can the ocean hold a bigger body than land? And what food makes giant size possible?

Outro

The biggest animal runs on the smallest snacks. Science is amazing! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!