How Big Is a Blue Whale Heart?
The blue whale's heart is the largest of any animal - truly a marvel of biological engineering.
Blue Whale Heart Dimensions
| Measurement | Size |
|---|---|
| Weight | ~400 lbs (180 kg) |
| Length | ~5 feet (1.5 m) |
| Width | ~4 feet (1.2 m) |
| Comparison | Size of a small car |
Incredible Heart Facts
Pumping Power
- Blood per beat: 58 gallons (220 liters)
- Beats per minute: 8-10 (at surface)
- Diving heart rate: As low as 2 beats per minute
- Daily blood pumped: ~2,000 gallons per hour
Blood Vessels
- Aorta diameter: 9 inches (23 cm)
- Human could crawl through main arteries
- Total blood volume: ~2,500 gallons
Comparison to Other Hearts
| Animal | Heart Weight |
|---|---|
| Blue Whale | 400 lbs |
| Elephant | 25-45 lbs |
| Horse | 8-10 lbs |
| Human | 0.5-1 lb |
| Mouse | 0.0001 lb |
Why So Big?
Meeting Oxygen Demands
- Must pump blood to massive body
- Supplies oxygen during deep dives
- Maintains body temperature
- Supports 100+ ton body weight
Slow and Powerful
- Resting rate: 8-10 beats/minute
- Much slower than smaller animals
- Each beat is incredibly powerful
- Can be heard from 2 miles away
During Diving
When blue whales dive:
- Heart rate drops to 2 beats/minute
- Blood redirected to vital organs
- Oxygen stored in muscles
- Can dive 15-20 minutes
Preserved Hearts
The ROM (Royal Ontario Museum) displays a real blue whale heart:
- First ever preserved and displayed
- From a whale that died in 2014
- Weighs 440 lbs
- Took 5 years to preserve