A Blue Whale's Tongue Weighs More Than An ELEPHANT! | Wild Bites | BBC Earth Kids

BBC Earth Kids

17 Jul 202005:11

Summary

TLDRThis video script explores the marvels of the blue whale, the largest animal ever to have lived, weighing up to 130 tons and reaching 30 meters in length. Despite their massive size, whales are warm-blooded mammals, not fish, with a fascinating evolutionary history from land to sea. The script delves into the two types of whales—those with baleen for filtering krill and toothed whales, including the intelligent sperm whale with the largest brain in the animal kingdom. It also touches on the threats whales have faced from hunting and the hope for their recovery due to hunting bans.

Takeaways

🌊 The blue whale is the largest animal ever to have lived, even larger than the largest dinosaurs.
🐋 Blue whales can weigh up to 130 tons and measure 30 meters in length, with a heart the size of a small car.
🔍 Whales are mammals, not fish, characterized by being warm-blooded, breathing air, and nursing their young with milk.
🦴 Whales evolved from land-dwelling ancestors, as evidenced by remnants of hip bones in their skeletons.
🌐 There are over 80 species of whales, varying in shape and size, adapted to life in the water.
🦷 Baleen whales have baleen plates for filtering food like krill from the water, while toothed whales have teeth for eating fish and squid.
🍤 Baleen whales consume approximately 40 million krill a day, which is equivalent to the weight of about five cows.
🦈 Toothed whales include the sperm whale, beluga, narwhal, and dolphins, with some, like orcas, known to hunt other marine mammals.
🏖️ Some killer whales have been observed beaching themselves to catch seals in the shallows.
🎺 Whales hold various records, such as the kuvia's beaked whale for longest breath-holding and the bowhead whale for the longest lifespan.
🧠 The sperm whale has the largest brain in the animal kingdom, suggesting high intelligence among whales.
🚫 Despite past heavy hunting, a global ban in the 1960s and recent conservation efforts have led to an increase in some whale populations.

Q & A

What is the largest animal that ever lived, according to the video?
-The largest animal that ever lived is the blue whale, which is bigger than even the most ginormous dinosaurs.
How much does a blue whale weigh and what is its approximate length?
-A blue whale weighs around 130 tons and measures approximately 30 meters in length.
What is the size of a blue whale's heart and how often does it beat?
-A blue whale's heart is the size of a small car and it beats once every 10 seconds.
How are whales related to humans, and what do they share in common?
-Whales are mammals, just like humans, which means they are warm-blooded, breathe air, and baby whales need their mother's milk to survive.
What evolutionary evidence suggests that whales once lived on land?
-The presence of tiny hip bones in whales, even though they don't have legs, suggests that their ancestors used to live on land.
What are the two major types of whales and how can you tell them apart?
-The two major types of whales are toothed whales and baleen whales, which can be distinguished by looking inside their mouths for teeth or baleen plates.
What is the diet of baleen whales and how much krill do they consume daily?
-Baleen whales feed on tiny shrimp-like animals called krill, consuming around 40 million krill a day, which is equivalent in weight to about five cows.
Which family of whales includes the sperm whale, beluga whale, narwhal, and dolphins?
-The toothed whales family includes the sperm whale, beluga whale, narwhal, and dolphins.
What is unique about the narwhal among toothed whales?
-The narwhal is unique among toothed whales for its large unicorn-like tusk.
What is the longest time a kuvia's beaked whale can hold its breath and why is it significant?
-The kuvia's beaked whale can hold its breath for over two hours, which is the longest of any mammal and is significant for its deep diving capabilities.
What is the average lifespan of a bowhead whale and why is it notable?
-The bowhead whale has an average lifespan of 268 years, making it the oldest living mammal and notable for having been born before significant historical events like the invention of the steam train and the founding of the United States.
What are some of the records that whales hold in terms of size and other characteristics?
-Whales hold records for the loudest calls of any creature on the planet, the longest breath-holding time, the oldest living mammal, and the largest brain in the animal kingdom with the sperm whale.
What measures have been taken to protect whales from extinction?
-A global hunting ban was implemented in the 1960s, and in recent years, the number of blue and humpback whales has started to increase, offering hope for their continued presence in the wild.

Outlines

00:00

🐋 Giants of the Ocean: The Blue Whale

The script introduces the blue whale as the largest animal to have ever lived, larger than any dinosaur and still living today. It emphasizes the whale's massive size, with a heart the size of a small car and arteries large enough for a person to swim through. The video promises to explore the world of the largest animals, starting with the blue whale, which can weigh up to 130 tons and measure 30 meters in length.

🦈 Misconceptions Debunked: Whales Are Mammals, Not Fish

This paragraph clarifies that despite their aquatic environment and fish-like appearance, whales are indeed mammals, sharing more similarities with humans than fish. It explains that whales are warm-blooded, breathe air, and nurse their young with milk. The script also delves into the evolutionary history of whales, revealing that their ancestors lived on land around 50 million years ago, as evidenced by their skeletal structure, including the remnants of hip bones.

🦷 Whale Classification: Baleen and Toothed Whales

The script differentiates between two major types of whales based on their feeding mechanisms: baleen whales with hairy structures that filter food from the water, and toothed whales that have teeth for catching prey. Baleen whales, despite their enormous size, primarily feed on tiny krill, consuming around 40 million daily, equivalent to the weight of five cows. Toothed whales, which include sperm whales, belugas, narwhals, dolphins, and porpoises, eat fish, squid, and sometimes other mammals, with some killer whales known to hunt seals.

🐋 Exceptional Abilities and Records of Whales

This paragraph highlights the extraordinary capabilities and records held by whales. It mentions the Cuvier's beaked whale's ability to hold its breath for over two hours, the bowhead whale's longevity with an average lifespan of 268 years, and the sperm whale's impressive brain size, which is the largest in the animal kingdom. Additionally, whale calls are noted for being the loudest of any creature, able to travel hundreds of kilometers underwater.

🛡️ Conservation Efforts and Hope for the Future

The script concludes by discussing the history of whaling and the impact on whale populations, which led to some species being close to extinction. It acknowledges the global hunting ban in the 1960s and notes the recent increase in the numbers of blue and humpback whales, offering hope for the continued existence of these majestic creatures in the wild.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Blue Whale

The blue whale is the largest animal known to have ever existed, as mentioned in the script. It is a marine mammal that can weigh up to 130 tons and measure 30 meters in length. The blue whale is central to the video's theme of exploring the largest animals, illustrating the scale of these creatures with comparisons to buses and lorries. Its heart is so large that it can be compared to a small car, and it beats once every 10 seconds, showcasing the remarkable biology of these giants.

💡Mammal

The term 'mammal' is used to clarify that whales, despite living in the sea, are not fish but mammals, which means they are warm-blooded, breathe air, and give birth to live young that they nurse with milk. This is a key concept in the video as it distinguishes whales from fish and highlights their close relation to humans, emphasizing the theme of shared characteristics among diverse life forms.

💡Baleen

Baleen is a type of filter-feeding system found in certain species of whales, as described in the script. It consists of plates of baleen, which are made of a substance called keratin, similar to human hair and nails. Baleen whales use these plates to filter tiny shrimp-like animals called krill from the water. This is a key concept in understanding the feeding habits of the largest animals on Earth and how they sustain their massive size on such small prey.

💡Krill

Krill are small, shrimp-like crustaceans that are a primary food source for baleen whales. The script mentions that baleen whales consume around 40 million krill a day, which is equivalent in weight to about five cows. This highlights the vast amount of food required to sustain the largest animals and illustrates the interconnectedness of different species in the marine ecosystem.

💡Toothed Whales

Toothed whales, as mentioned in the script, are a family of whales that have teeth and primarily feed on fish and squid. This group includes the sperm whale, the beluga whale, the narwhal, and even dolphins and porpoises. The script uses toothed whales to contrast with baleen whales, showing the diversity within the whale species and their different feeding strategies.

💡Sperm Whale

The sperm whale is highlighted in the script as the largest species of toothed whale. It is known for its massive size and unique hunting behavior, which includes diving deep into the ocean to hunt for prey. The sperm whale's brain is also noted as the largest in the animal kingdom, suggesting a high level of intelligence, which ties into the video's theme of the cognitive abilities of large animals.

💡Narwhal

The narwhal is a unique toothed whale known for its long, unicorn-like tusk, which is actually an elongated tooth. The script uses the narwhal as an example of the diversity and peculiar adaptations found within the whale family, contributing to the video's exploration of the variety of large marine mammals.

💡Killer Whale

The killer whale, or orca, is a toothed whale that is mentioned in the script as one of the top predators in the ocean. Despite its intimidating name, the script notes that killer whales have never killed a human in the wild. This information challenges common perceptions and contributes to the video's theme of redefining our understanding of these large creatures.

💡Whale Hunting

Whale hunting is a historical practice that the script mentions as having heavily impacted whale populations, leading some species close to extinction. The script also notes the global hunting ban in the 1960s and the subsequent increase in the number of blue and humpback whales, illustrating the impact of conservation efforts on the survival of these large animals and tying into the video's theme of the fragility and resilience of large species.

💡Conservation

Conservation is a key theme in the video, as it discusses the efforts to protect whales from extinction due to hunting. The script highlights the positive effects of the global hunting ban and the recovery of certain whale populations, emphasizing the importance of conservation in preserving the biodiversity of our planet, especially for the largest animals.

💡Intelligence

The script suggests that whales, particularly the sperm whale, are among the most intelligent animals on Earth due to their large brains. This concept is used to highlight the cognitive abilities of large animals and to challenge the notion that size and intelligence are inversely related, adding depth to the video's exploration of the characteristics of large marine mammals.

Highlights

The biggest animal that ever lived is the blue whale, not a dinosaur, and it is still alive today.

A blue whale's tongue alone is heavier than an elephant.

Blue whales can weigh up to 130 tons and measure 30 meters in length.

A blue whale's heart is the size of a small car and beats once every 10 seconds.

Whales are mammals, not fish, and are more closely related to humans than to fish.

Whales' ancestors lived on land around 50 million years ago, as evidenced by their hip bones.

There are over 80 different species of whales, varying in shape and size.

Baleen whales have comb-like structures in their mouths to filter food like krill from the water.

Baleen whales can eat around 40 million krill a day, equivalent to the weight of five cows.

Toothed whales, including sperm whales, belugas, narwhals, dolphins, and porpoises, have teeth and mainly eat fish and squid.

Killer whales, the largest species of dolphin, hunt other marine mammals like seals.

The kuvia's beaked whale can hold its breath for over two hours, the longest of any mammal.

The bowhead whale lives an average of 268 years, making it the oldest living mammal.

Whale calls are the loudest of any creature on Earth and can be heard underwater for hundreds of kilometers.

The sperm whale has the largest brain in the animal kingdom, around six times the size of a human brain.

Whales are considered some of the most intelligent animals on Earth.

Whale populations have been recovering since the global hunting ban in the 1960s.

The number of blue and humpback whales has been increasing in recent years.