06-02-06-034-s

Name: Date:

Subject: Year 6 Literacy Unit: Blue whale

Blue Whale
Quick facts Diet: Carnivore Life span in the wild: 80 - 90 years Size: 25 32 m Weight: Up to 200 tons Group name: Pod Status: Endangered Blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus) are larger than the dinosaurs were and can grow up to 32 m in length. They are the heaviest animals in the world and can weigh up to 200 tons which is the equivalent of 15 school buses. Its tongue alone can weigh as much as an elephant and its mouth can hold 100 tons of water and food. They breathe through two blowholes on the top of their heads. Despite its size, the blue whale feeds almost primarily on krill which are tiny shrimp like crustaceans and measure about 1 2 cm long. Blue whales consume about 4 6 tons of krill a day, thats about 40 million krill. Blue whales roam all oceans. They can communicate with one another from 1,000 miles away and their strong heartbeat can be detected from two miles away. Their low frequency sounds are louder than a jet engine and include moans, groans, buzzes, and pulses. They can spend 10 20 minutes under water without surfacing for air. When a baby calf is born it is already 7m long and weighs up to 3 tons. By the time it is 8 months old it measures 15 m in length. Blue whales are in danger of becoming extinct.
Primary Leap Ltd. 2010 www.primaryleap.co.uk - Primary Resources

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06-02-06-034-s

Name: Date:

Subject: Year 6 Literacy Unit: Blue whale

Blue Whale
Answer the following questions:
1. Does a blue whale eat meat or plants? ___________________________________________________________________ 2. How much does a blue whale weigh? ___________________________________________________________________ 3. How much water and food can a blue whale hold in its mouth? ___________________________________________________________________ 4. A blue whale feeds primarily on: a b Trout Krill c Jelly fish

d Small whales

5. How long can a blue whale stay under water? ___________________________________________________________________ 6. How do blue whales breathe? ___________________________________________________________________ 7. What is a baby whale called? ___________________________________________________________________ 8. How long is a baby whale at 8 months old? ___________________________________________________________________
Primary Leap Ltd. 2010