The ocean and the seas are home to a number of marine creatures. You will note that these creatures usually vary in size, shape, and even characteristics. From the small fish, you find in small ponds and lakes to the largest whale on earth, there is a myriad of animals that you are likely to find in the ocean. When it comes to marine creatures, some of the most fascinating creatures are the whales. Besides being big in size, they are smart, graceful, and have soothing voices.
As we speak, there are many types of whales that you can find in the ocean or sea. Some of the common types of whales include the Blue Whale, Southern Right whale, Humpback whales, and so on. For many years, most people have been confusing the Blue Whale for the Humpback whale and vice versa. The good news is that we shall outline the main differences between these two whales for better understanding.
What is a Blue Whale?
To start with, the Blue whale is one of the largest marine mammals on earth. You will note that it features a long, torpedo-shaped body. As far as its weight is concerned, this creature can weigh 150 tons and can have a length of more than 30 meters. Even at birth, this creature is still bigger than adults of most animal species you find out there. When it comes to the weight of the heart, this creature’s heart weighs about 180Kgs. Whenever the whale dives below the sea to feed, this heart only beats twice per minute. Besides having a massive heart, the blue whale has a big tongue as well.
When it comes to its diet, the blue whale mainly feeds on krill. These are basically small sea creatures that resemble shrimp. On an average day, this whale can eat up to 4 tons of them. Finally, this whale is prevalent in the Indian Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, and Pacific Ocean. Apart from these oceans, you can find them in the Tropical, Temperate, and Subtropical seas.
What is a Humpback Whale?
The Humpback whale is equally enormous but relatively smaller than the blue whale. In fact, a Humpback whale can grow up to 18 meters long and can weigh up to 40 tons. As far as its name is concerned, one might be forgiven to think that this whale has a hump at the back. However, this is not the case. Instead, it got that name due to the tendency of arching its back whenever it wants to make a deep dive into the sea or ocean. When it arches its back, a large hump is formed on its back. These marine creatures are also known for spyhopping, lobtailing, breaching, and flipper slapping in the water.
When it comes to diet, this creature feeds on tiny sea creatures that look like shrimp. It also feeds on small fish and planktons. Besides this, it is important to note that humpback whales usually travel alone. However, there are instances you might find them in small groups commonly known as pods. Whenever they are together, they communicate with each other and travel together. Generally, Humpbacks are great swimmers, thanks to their massive tail fin, commonly known as a fluke.
As far as their habitat is concerned, these creatures usually spend ample time in high-latitude areas. Some of these areas include the Gulf of Maine and the Gulf of Alaska. They are also prevalent around the Equator during the winter season. They mostly come to tropical waters for mating and calving.
Main Differences Between the Blue Whale and the Humpback Whales
Although both creatures are enormous mammals of the seas, you will note that they differ in a number of aspects. Here are some of the distinguishing aspects between these two whales:
- Size: As we mentioned above, the Blue whale is larger than the Humpback whale. As a result, the Blue whale becomes the biggest marine creature in the world.
- Hunting habits: Besides the size, these marine creatures differ when it comes to their hunting habits. For instance, the Blue whale is known for eating small fishes and shrimps in the ocean. However, it is not as skilled as the Humpback whales as far as hunting is concerned. In fact, its counterpart is known to think fast and thereby devise better hunting strategies in the ocean. Besides this, they are known to migrate from one part of the ocean to another depending on the prevailing season.
- Habitats: You will note that Humpbacks are known to inhabit tropical waters. To put this into perspective, they mostly inhabit the Atlantic, Arctic, and Pacific oceans. Some have also been found around Antarctica and Bering Strait. Blue whales, on the other hand, inhabit nearly all the oceans of the world apart from the Arctic.
- Body structure: As we mentioned above, Blue whales usually have a long, tapering body while their counterpart features a flat and U-shaped head. Besides this, the Humpback whale usually has a visible ridge that runs from the blowhole to the upper part of its lip.
Final Words
From how these creatures feed to how their body structures look like, there are many differences between Blue And Humpback whales. Since most people have been confusing these two whales, the differences mentioned above will help you distinguish these two marine creatures. Knowing these vital differences is a great deal as far as marine research is concerned.
