The Fin Whale Is the Second-Largest Whale on Earth

The blue whale gets the attention, but the runner-up is impressive in its own right. NOAA Fisheries states that the fin whale is the second-largest whale species on Earth, second only to the blue whale, and that it is found throughout the world’s oceans. Even a newborn is large. Calves are about 18 feet long at birth and weigh 4,000 to 6,000 pounds. Adults have appetites to match, and a fin whale eats up to 2 tons of food daily. NOAA Fisheries describes them as fast swimmers, which is one reason whalers did not target them at first. They are long-lived, with a maximum lifespan of about 90 years. One odd detail is the coloring of the head, which is dark on the left side of the lower jaw and white on the right.