The Mighty Beater: A Look at a Blue Whale’s 181 kg Heart

That incredible image showcases the heart of a blue whale, the largest animal on Earth. This behemoth organ tips the scales at a whopping 181 kg (400 pounds) – about the weight of a grand piano!

Imagine holding something heavier than a baby elephant in your hands. That’s the kind of power this muscular marvel possesses. To pump blood through the blue whale’s enormous body, which can reach up to 30 meters long and weigh over 200 tons, this heart is capable of:

• Holding 60 gallons of blood per beat! That’s enough to fill a bathtub in one go.
• Having a resting heart rate of only 5-6 beats per minute. Compare that to our human average of 70-80 bpm!
• Producing sounds detectable over 2 miles away! The booming pulse of this heart can be heard across vast distances underwater.

The image you mentioned likely depicts the heart on display at the Royal Ontario Museum in Canada. This awe-inspiring specimen allows us to appreciate the sheer scale and power of these gentle giants.

So, the next time you see a picture of a blue whale, remember the incredible engine that keeps it going – a heart that’s truly one of nature’s most magnificent creations.