What is the loudest animal on earth?
The blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) is the biggest - and loudest - mammal on earth, larger than any of the dinosaurs and possibly the largest animal that has ever lived.
Its call reaches levels of up to 188 decibels - louder than a jet (140
decibels), a rock band or a symphony orchestra. Scientists have estimated the loudest whale sounds could be transmitted over hundreds of kilometres, even an entire ocean.
The average adult blue whale grows to about 25m long, weighs about 109 tonnes and has a heart the size of a VW Beetle.
The population is believed to range from 5600 to 12,000, compared with an estimated 200,000 in pre-whaling times.
The whales migrate from breeding grounds in tropical waters (where they overwinter) to feed in polar regions during summer months. They can consume up to 40 million (3-4 tonnes) of shrimp-like krill a day during their 80 to 100 day feeding season.
They are fast, strong swimmers capable of reaching 48 km/h when alarmed, although they usually cruise at less than half that speed.
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