Mammals
Fin Whale
Balaenoptera physalus · also called fin whales, finback whale
Cutting through open ocean water with surprising speed for its enormous size, a fin whale surfaces briefly to breathe, its asymmetrically coloured jaw a distinctive feature belonging to the second-largest animal ever known to have lived.
Overview
The fin whale, Balaenoptera physalus, is a fast, streamlined baleen whale native to open ocean waters across nearly every ocean in the world. Its status as the second-largest animal ever to have existed, unusual asymmetrical jaw colouration, and impressive swimming speed for such an enormous creature make it one of the more physically remarkable large whales found anywhere on Earth.
A giant built for speed
Unlike many large whales that move at a leisurely pace, the fin whale combines sheer size with genuine speed, a slender, streamlined body allowing it to swim faster than most other whales of comparable scale.
Status
Vulnerable but increasing in several regions, having been significantly reduced by intensive 20th-century whaling before international protections allowed a gradual recovery to begin.
Fin Whale: common questions
How does the fin whale compare in size to the blue whale?
This species is the second-largest animal known to have ever existed, trailing only the blue whale in overall length and size among all animals, living or extinct, making the two species the largest and second-largest creatures ever documented on the planet.
Why does the fin whale have differently coloured sides to its jaw?
This species displays an unusual asymmetrical colour pattern on its lower jaw, with one side notably darker than the other, a distinctive feature whose exact function remains an active area of scientific interest, with theories ranging from feeding advantages to signalling.
Why was the fin whale so heavily hunted historically?
This species was hunted intensively during the 20th century once faster ships and explosive harpoons made pursuing such a fast-swimming whale commercially viable for the first time, a shift in whaling technology that led to significant population declines before international protections were introduced.
How fast can a fin whale swim?
This species is among the fastest of the large whales, capable of sustained swimming speeds that have earned it a reputation as one of the ocean's quicker giants, an ability supported by its notably slender, streamlined body compared with some other large whale species.