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Blue Whale

Balaenoptera musculus

Photo by CynthiaMHori
Published on Project Noah
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Field Notes

Description:

With lengths of 100 ft it is the largest animal on Earth. We were out on the Sea of Cortez working with scientists who were trying to get DNA samples. Generally when a whale goes under you can predict when and about where it might resurface. This whale because of its size could stay under longer and of course travel a great distance while under. We couldn't get close enough to it to get a sample. It was an amazing day

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (7)
galewhale..Gale
Wonder if they just do that to feed not travel. We tried taking DNA samples on Finbacks and it was the same deal.... fast indeed!
CynthiaMHori
The actually spotted more than one blue that day and ahd a really hard time trying to catch them. To get samples we got in a panga and then tried to get close enough to snag a sample. The Blues were on to us and would sound and stay under a good 8 minutes. They would come up to breathe and be so far away form us it would take too long to get to them and once again they would go under.....we tried for about an hour to no avail. They are so fast! And never once saw them fluke
galewhale..Gale
Do blue whales fluke? Finbacks rarely do which is another difference.
CynthiaMHori
the color is right for blue too -the scientists collecting DNA samples of all whales were from a Mexican University. They also took fluke photos of the humpbacks. Further south we also saw grays but I cant seem to find those photos.
galewhale..Gale
Wowowo thought it might be a finback from the thumbnail haha it just goes on forever so definitely a blue whale. Is there anyone researching the blue whale population down there? Sounds like a wonderful trip where you could spend leisurely time and focus.
CynthiaMHori
Carolina - go to the Sea of Cortez in February - we saw Humpback, Blue, and Gray. We also were followed by a pod of about 200+ common dolphins one day. We spent 5 days out on a boat collecting data.
Carolina
Noooooooooo, they are my all time favorite animal! I have never seen them before, but just have to love them, they are so incredible and big, and docile. One thing I ask before I die is to get to see one face to face.

Spotted for Missions

Mission
Marine Mammals of the World
Photographed
PublishedApril 28, 2011

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