blue whale

Thân thiện

A blue whale swims gracefully through the deep ocean.

Definition

Noun: 1. The largest known animal, a marine mammal: A "blue whale" is a very large baleen whale (whalebone whale) with a bluish-grey colored body. It is known for its long migrations and is most commonly found in the Southern Hemisphere.

Usage Examples

• The blue whale's heart is the size of a small car.
• Scientists are tracking the migration patterns of the blue whale.
• Seeing a blue whale in the wild is a rare and unforgettable experience.

Advanced Usage

• The term is used in scientific and conservation contexts to discuss biology, ecology, and protection efforts for this specific species.
  • International agreements aim to protect the endangered blue whale.

Variants and Related Words

• Balaenoptera musculus: The scientific (Latin) name for the blue whale.
• Baleen whale: The broader category of whales to which the blue whale belongs, which filter-feed using baleen plates instead of teeth.
• Cetacean: The order of marine mammals that includes whales, dolphins, and porpoises.

Synonyms

• Great whale (a general term for large baleen whales, but often associated with the blue whale due to its size).
• Sulphur-bottom whale (an older, less common name for the blue whale, referring to the yellowish diatom film sometimes seen on its underside).

Related Phrases

• Blue whale unit (BWU): A historical term used in whaling regulations, where one blue whale was considered equivalent to a certain number of other, smaller whale species. This phrase is specific to historical commercial whaling discussions.

Học thuật

Noun

1. largest mammal ever known; bluish-grey migratory whalebone whale mostly of southern hemisphere

Từ đồng nghĩa

• sulfur bottom
• Balaenoptera musculus