Blue whale

• Irish name: An Míol mór gorm.
• Latin name: Balaenoptera musculus
• Size: 21 – 28 m
• Diet: Krill

DESCRIPTION:

Blue whales be confused with any of the other large baleen whales but there are noticeable differences between the blows, surfacing sequences and appearance of the flukes (see relevant species profiles for details).

BEHAVIOUR:

This ocean giant is known to log at the surface and are characterised by their large and columnar blows.

IN IRELAND:

This species is exceedingly rare in Ireland and occurs in offshore waters along the continental shelf mainly to the west and south west.

The last stranded blue whale in Ireland was reported in 1957.