dcsimg

Balaenoptera musculus musculus (Pygmy Blue Whale) is a subspecies of mammals in the family rorquals. They are carnivores. Individuals can grow to 32.6 m. They rely on lift powered swimming to move around.

show all records
  • URI: https://eol.org/schema/terms/lift_based_swimming
  • Definition: Hydrofoils, or fins, are used to push against the water to create a normal force to provide thrust, propelling the animal through water. The reduction of fin cross-sectional area helps to minimize drag, and therefore increase efficiency. Regardless of size of the animal, at any particular speed, maximum possible lift is proportional to (wing area) x (speed)<sup>2</sup>. Dolphins and whales have large, horizontal caudal hydrofoils, while many fish and sharks have vertical caudal hydrofoils.
show all records

EOL has data for 14 attributes, including:

Known occurrences, collected specimens and observations of pygmy blue whale. View this species on GBIF