Fin whale
Balaenoptera physalus
- Scientific name
- Balaenoptera physalus
- Group
- Marine mammals
- Rarity
- Legendary
- Where to see it
- Mediterranean
- Conservation status (IUCN)
- Vulnerable
Did you know?
The fin whale is the second-largest animal on Earth after the blue whale, and one of the fastest, capable of reaching speeds up to 40 km/h. Its asymmetrical coloring, with a lighter right jaw than left, is still not fully explained by scientists.
What defines this group — Marine mammals
Warm-blooded, they nurse their young and breathe air — the group closest to us underwater.
- They breathe through a blowhole (whales, dolphins) or nostrils (seals, sea lions).
- A thick layer of blubber, rather than fur, insulates them from the cold.
- Many navigate and hunt by sound, using echolocation.