1. Blue whale By: Will Thompson

2. Description classification Kingdom:Animalia Phylum:Chordata Class:Mammalia Order:Cetacea Family:Balaenopteridae Genus:Balaenoptera Species:B. musculus

3. dimensions Shape- fishlike with flukes Length- 100 feet long Height- about 20 feet tall Weight- about 200 tons Colors and markings-molted blue gray with yellow underbellies.

4. Habitat They live in all of the world’s oceans, following the krill. You will mainly find them in deeper water.

5. Diet There diet mainly consists of krill. They eat up to 4 to 8 tons daily.

6. Family life Offspring-Number born one, gestation-one year, when- winter in warm waters, care- they drink up to 379 liters daily, swim beside mother. Babies can grow up 1.5 inches and gain 200 pounds a day. Shelter- in water, other-young are up to 25feet long.

7. Social behavior Blue whales usually live alone or in pairs, but sometimes live in pods, or groups.

8. Characteristics Temper- blue whales are usually calm unless threatened or scared. Habits and behavior- they travel long distances for food and breeding. Defense- speed and whacking with tail. Acquiring food- migrate with krill. Life span- 80to90 years. Other- average heart rate is 8 beats per minute.

9. History They were hunted for their blubber and oil before 1966. they were on the brink of extinction until they made laws against hunting whales.

10. Present status They are now endangered because of poaching and their history.

11. sources http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/ani mals/mammals/blue-whale/http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/ani mals/mammals/blue-whale/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_whale http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/ani mals/blue-whale-interactivehttp://animals.nationalgeographic.com/ani mals/blue-whale-interactive