Head to head
Fin Whale vs Blue Whale
The fin whale and blue whale are the largest and second-largest animals known to have ever existed, close relatives within the same group of baleen whales that differ mainly in scale, body shape, and one very unusual facial feature.
| Fin Whale | Blue Whale | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Balaenoptera physalus | Balaenoptera musculus |
| Size rank among all animals | Second-largest ever known | Largest ever known |
| Maximum length | Around 24-27 metres | Up to about 30 metres |
| Body shape | Notably slender and fast | Massive, less built for speed |
| Distinctive feature | Asymmetrically coloured lower jaw | Mottled blue-grey body, car-sized heart |
| Conservation status | Vulnerable | Endangered |
| Population trend | Increasing | Increasing |
| Diet | Filter feeder | Filter feeder |
Fin Whale vs Blue Whale: common questions
Which is bigger, the fin whale or the blue whale?
The blue whale is bigger, holding the record as the largest animal ever known to have lived at lengths approaching 30 metres and weights of up to 190 tonnes, while the fin whale ranks as the second-largest animal ever known, distinctly smaller but still one of the largest creatures on Earth.
How can you tell a fin whale apart from a blue whale?
Body shape and jaw colouring are the clearest clues, since the fin whale has a notably slender, fast-swimming build and a striking asymmetrical colour pattern on its lower jaw, while the blue whale has a bulkier body and a more uniformly mottled blue-grey colouration without that jaw asymmetry.
Which of these two whales is faster?
The fin whale is considerably faster, ranking among the fastest of the large whales thanks to its notably slender, streamlined body, while the blue whale, despite its own impressive swimming ability for its size, is not built for the same kind of sustained speed as its smaller relative.