The blue whale and the humpback whale are two of the most incredible animals to ever live on planet Earth, and while the two have many similarities, they are quite different from one another. These two whales are both classified as endangered due to various hazards such as habitat destruction, hunting, and climate change.
They belong to the diverse order Cetacea which encompasses all whales, dolphins, orcas, and porpoises.
Credit: Amila Tennakoon (left), Aurore Murguet (right)
Blue Whale vs Humpback Whale: Main Differences
Here are the main differences between the blue whale and humpback whale:
Appearance: Blue whales are streamlined with a small dorsal fin, compared to a humpback, which has a characteristic hump on its back, with hair follicles that covers its jaw. The blue whale is grey compared to the humpback, which is bluer in color. They are different from toothed whales because of the presence of baleen plates, in place of teeth. Humpbacks show their tail flukes more often than other whale species.
Size: The blue whale is the largest creature on earth, around 2-3 times larger than the humpback whale.
Life span: Blue whales live between 80-90 years, whereas humpback whales live between 45-50 years.
Sound: Blue whales make sounds as loud as a jet engine and louder than humpback whales.
We’ll explore these differences and interesting facts about each whale more below.
Who Would Win?
Both species are generally peaceful and not known for aggressive behavior towards each other. In the vast and diverse ocean ecosystem, each has its unique adaptations that enable it to thrive.
If we were to speculate, the blue whale’s sheer size and strength might give it an advantage in a confrontation. The blue whale is the largest animal on Earth, significantly larger than the humpback whale.
Humpback whales are more maneuverable and could potentially use their long pectoral fins, which can be up to a third of their body length, to defend themselves if necessary.
But it’s crucial to remember that such confrontations are highly unlikely, as both species typically prefer to conserve energy for feeding, migration, and reproduction rather than engage in conflict.
Blue Whale
The blue whale is part of the baleen whale parvorder Mysticeti, also known as whalebone whales. Blue whales are famed as the largest creatures ever to live on planet Earth. You want to know just how big they are? Check out our blue whale size comparison to help visualize the sheer size and scale of blue whales.
Blue Whale Species
There are four recognized subspecies of blue whales, as noted by the Society for Marine Mammalogy. They are:
- B. m. musculus
- B. m. intermedia
- B. m. brevicauda
- B. m. indica
These four subspecies live throughout the North Atlantic and Pacific, the Southern Ocean, the Indian Ocean and Northern Indian Ocean, and the South Pacific.
Appearance
The blue whale is the largest animal on Earth, reaching lengths of up to 100 feet and weights of up to 200 tons.
The female whales are larger than the males, with the largest ever weight of one of these incredible creatures coming in at 196 long tons (or more than 33 elephants according to World Wildlife). On average, a female blue whale is between 69 feet long and 79 feet long.
Did you know…
The age of a blue whale can be judged by their earwax, which forms in layers throughout their lives. They can live between 80 to 90 years in the wild.
The bodies of blue whales are often mottled, with different patterns appearing on individuals. Their heads are large, broad, and flat with a “U” shape when seen from above. The undersides are yellowish due to the accumulation of diatoms.
Blue whales also have black baleen plates on the sides of their jaw and long, skinny flippers.
Habitat
Blue whales have a global distribution and can be found in all major oceans, except the Arctic. They are most commonly found in the North Atlantic, North Pacific, and Southern Hemisphere oceans.
Their distribution is largely determined by food availability, with individuals migrating to high-latitude feeding grounds during the summer months to feed on abundant krill and then traveling to warmer, low-latitude waters in the winter for breeding.
These gentle giants prefer deep ocean waters, but they can also be found in the waters of continental shelves and near polar ice.
They are solitary creatures, usually seen alone or in pairs, and their low-frequency vocalizations, believed to be calls to potential mates, can be heard hundreds of miles away.
Diet
Despite their enormous size, blue whales primarily feed on tiny shrimp-like animals called krill, filtering massive quantities of ocean water through their baleen plates.
Blue whales usually swim alone or may be found in groups of two or four. But, on some occasions, when a food source is quite rich, tens of whales can be seen feeding together, according to National Geographic.
During feeding season, a blue whale consumes about 4 tons of krill a day. They feed by lunging into dense swarms of krill, taking in huge amounts of water, and then pushing it out through their baleen plates, trapping the krill inside.
Reproduction
Blue whales, reach sexual maturity between 5- 10 years old and migrate to warmer waters to breed, engaging in complex courtship rituals before mating. Before mating, the male whale follows the female for weeks, sometimes racing and fending off a second male.
Did you know…
Blue whales are also the loudest animals on the planet. Their calls can reach 188 decibels, louder than a jet engine. This sound is projected at a low frequency that travels for miles and can be heard by other whales. Scientists believe that sound is used to attract mates.
Females carry their young for 10-12 months, giving birth to a massive, single calf that relies on its mother’s milk for about 6-7 months.
Scientists continue to study blue whale reproduction to better understand their behavior, population dynamics, and conservation needs.
Threats
Blue whales face threats from entanglement in fishing gear, ship strikes, noise pollution disrupting their communication, and climate change affecting their food sources.
Conservation efforts for blue whales include the regulation of commercial whaling, implementing measures to prevent ship strikes and entanglement, mitigating noise pollution, and monitoring populations to inform management strategies.
Humpback Whale
The humpback whale, or Megaptera novaeangliae, is a species of baleen whale. It is known for its distinctive body shape and its grace in the water. Humpback whales can be distinguished by their small dorsal fin and long pectoral flippers, and they show their tail flukes more often.
Humpback whales are some of the most easily identifiable whales in Earth’s oceans. They have an obvious hump, from which they get their name and black dorsal coloring. They have long pectoral fins and stocky bodies. Also characteristic of these whales are the tubercles, or hair follicles, that cover their lower jaw.
Humpback whales are popular for breaching, a behavior where they leap out of the water, exposing 90% of their bodies.
When fully grown, females are slightly larger than males (as with blue whales). They can grow to a length of 52 feet, while the males can reach an average of 44 feet, significantly shorter than the blue whale. The largest humpback whale on record was a female weighing in at 99 short tons. But, most whales are between 28-33 short tons.
Habitat
Humpback whales also have a worldwide distribution, inhabiting every ocean from the polar waters of the Antarctic and Arctic to tropical and subtropical seas.
They undertake one of the longest migrations of any mammal, traveling up to 5,000 miles each way between their feeding grounds in colder areas (like Antarctica and the Gulf of Alaska) and their breeding grounds in warmer climates (like Hawaii, Mexico, and West Indies). These migrations ensure they enjoy the best of both worlds – ample food supply in the summer and warm, calm waters for calving and mating in the winter.
Did you know…
Whale fall ecosystems can support deep-sea communities for decades, creating biodiversity hotspots on the ocean floor as various species feed on the whale’s decomposing remains.
There are three recognized subspecies living in the North Pacific, North Atlantic, and Southern Hemisphere. These three subspecies, as noted by Sci-News, evolved separately and are far more isolated than scientists initially believed. The Southern Hemisphere whales are noted for their lighter bodies and undersides when contrasted with the whales of the North Pacific and North Atlantic.
Diet
Humpback whales have a more varied diet, feeding on crustaceans, krill as well as various species of small fish. One of their most remarkable feeding techniques is known as bubble net feeding.
A group of humpback whales will swim in a shrinking circle blowing bubbles below a school of prey, and then suddenly swim upward through the “net”, mouths agape, swallowing thousands of fish in one gulp.
They spend most of the warmer months feeding to prepare for the colder during which prey is harder to come by, and fat stores are more necessary, according to NOAA.
Reproduction
Humpback whales, reaching sexual maturity between 6 and 10 years old, embark on lengthy migrations to warmer waters for breeding, engaging in elaborate courtship displays that captivate those lucky enough to witness them.
Males, eager to win a mate, compete fiercely, breaching the surface, slapping their fins and tails, and filling the ocean with a symphony of haunting songs. Once a pair has formed, the female carries her calf for approximately 11-12 months before giving birth to a single, dependent youngster.
The calf relies entirely on its mother’s rich milk for nourishment for the first 6-12 months of life, gaining strength and size for the long journey back to feeding grounds.
While the Humpback whale songs are not as loud as the blue whale’s, they are still special because they are highly complex and structured, resembling a form of musical composition. Each song consists of sequences of moans, howls, cries, and other vocalizations that are repeated in patterns that can last for hours. These songs play a crucial role in communication among whales, particularly in mating rituals, and vary from population to population. The ability of humpback whales to continually modify and develop new song patterns each breeding season adds to the intrigue and uniqueness of these vocal performances.
Threats
Humpback whales also face threats from entanglement, ship strikes, and noise pollution. In addition, they are sometimes harassed or disturbed by whale-watching activities.
The conservation strategies for humpback whales include enforcing whaling bans, implementing safe whale-watching guidelines, reducing entanglement risks, and protecting critical habitats, particularly their breeding grounds in tropical waters.
Ocean Insights: Hear From Our Experts
By Hamna Faizan
Marine Life Researcher and Lecturer, with an MSc in Zoology
FAQs
What is bigger than a blue whale?
No animal to ever walk, fly, or swim in the oceans of the Earth is or was bigger than the blue whale. They can be as long as 100 feet and weigh as much as 196 tons.
How do blue whales communicate?
Blue whales use low-frequency vocalizations, often referred to as songs, to communicate. These sounds are among the loudest and lowest frequencies made by any animal and can travel hundreds of miles underwater. Each population of blue whales has its unique song, and these songs can change slowly over time. This suggests a level of cultural learning among these magnificent marine mammals.
What is unique about the heart of a blue whale?
The blue whale’s heart is the largest of any known living animal, weighing approximately 400 pounds. It’s so large that a human could swim through the major arteries! This massive organ beats only 5-6 times per minute while at rest, and needs to pump several tons of blood throughout the whale’s body to deliver oxygen to its tissues. Despite its size, the blue whale’s heart makes up less than 1% of its total body weight, which is smaller in proportion compared to other animals.
How do blue whales sleep?
Unlike humans, blue whales don’t experience prolonged periods of unconscious sleep. Instead, they have an intriguing adaptation where they rest by shutting down one half of their brain at a time, a behavior known as unihemispheric sleep. This unique method allows them to continue surfacing to breathe and remain alert to potential threats in their environment while resting.
How fast can a blue whale swim?
Despite their enormous size, blue whales are surprisingly agile swimmers. They can reach speeds of up to 20 miles per hour during bursts of speed, often when they feel threatened or during social interactions. However, when traveling long distances, such as during their annual migrations, they typically cruise at a more leisurely pace of about 5 miles per hour. This slower speed helps them conserve energy during these extensive journeys, which can span thousands of miles.
How are blue whale songs different from humpback whale songs?
Blue whales also communicate using vocalizations, but their songs differ significantly from those of humpback whales. Blue whale songs are typically made up of low-frequency pulses, moans, and buzzes, and are among the loudest and most powerful sounds in the animal kingdom, able to travel great distances underwater. Unlike humpback whales, whose songs are complex and can vary significantly within and between populations, blue whale songs are more uniform and less variable. Blue whale songs are primarily thought to serve in communication over long distances, possibly related to navigation and attracting mates, but they do not display the same level of intricate structure or seasonal variation as those of the humpback whales.
