Blue Whales Getting Bigger

Galvasean

This is pretty cool.

ocean currents boosting the amount of krill around the Antarctica are likely to be responsible for this growth.

Co-author zoologist Dr Erich Fitzgerald of Museum Victoria says whales in general have continued to get larger and could theoretically continue to grow assuming they could get the food they require.

http://news.discovery.com/animals/blue-whale-larger-than-ever-120131.html

Mickeroo

Interesting, I wonder will this improve their chances of survival or just make it harder!
Here's a photo that gives a bit of perspective on the size of these guys, although I think it might be a humpback in this so the blue would be even bigger!!

Birdnuts

Thats interesting - many species like Polar Bears, Elephants, Tigers etc. are shrinking due to human induced factors leading to lack of food, illegal poaching that singles out the bigger specimens etc.

Galvasean

Think that picture is a humpback. The blue whale is less 'fat' looking and longer (in fact it is twice the size of a humpback).

Mickeroo

Galvasean wrote: »

Think that picture is a humpback. The blue whale is less 'fat' looking and longer (in fact it is twice the size of a humpback).

Yea it looks like there's barnacles around its snout too which I would associate with humpbacks. Pretty staggering how large the Blues are when you think about it.

recedite

Galvasean wrote: »

This is pretty cool.

Meh.. I've been getting bigger for ages; its easy.

paddy1977

Hook head in Wexford, thats where to go for the humpbacks

Mickeroo

paddy1977 wrote: »

Hook head in Wexford, thats where to go for the humpbacks

There was one spotted off Achill Island last week too: http://www.iwdg.ie/article.asp?id=2527

paddy1977

Ya i seen that on the web site, very cool,you a member of the IWDG, i am myself, just bought a new scope last week!

Galvasean

Mickeroo wrote: »

Pretty staggering how large the Blues are when you think about it.

I hear ya

Mickeroo

paddy1977 wrote: »

Ya i seen that on the web site, very cool,you a member of the IWDG, i am myself, just bought a new scope last week!

No actually, but i think i might join. Wouldn't mind doing one of their whale spotting courses.

paddy1977

Im going on the 1 in september on Cape, can't wait, have it booked already, the hostel is only 22euro a nite, can't go wrong for a great weekend, hopefully some whales around

paddy1977

Galvasean wrote: »

I hear ya

Hopefully ill get to see 1 in my life time