# Fin Whale (*Balaenoptera physalus*)

> The fin whale is the second-largest animal on Earth after the blue whale, reaching 25 m (82 ft) and 70 tonnes with an asymmetric jaw colouring. A fast baleen whale capable of 40 km/h bursts, it filters krill and small fish and is listed Vulnerable after decades of commercial whaling.

- **Category:** Mammal
- **Conservation status (IUCN):** Vulnerable
- **Range:** All major oceans from polar feeding grounds to temperate and tropical breeding areas; most abundant in the North Atlantic and Southern Ocean.
- **Canonical page:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/fin-whale/
- **Last reviewed:** 2026-07-16

## Scientific classification

- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Chordata
- **Class:** Mammalia
- **Order:** Artiodactyla
- **Family:** Balaenopteridae
- **Genus:** Balaenoptera

## Facts at a glance

| Attribute | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Scientific name | Balaenoptera physalus |
| Diet | Carnivore — krill, small fish, and copepods (filter feeder) |
| Habitat | Open oceans worldwide; migrates between feeding and breeding areas |
| Lifespan | 80–90 years |
| Weight | Up to 70,000 kg (154,000 lb) |
| Top speed | Up to 40 km/h (25 mph); called the 'greyhound of the sea' |
| Conservation status | Vulnerable (IUCN) |

## Filter feeding at scale

Fin whales gulp enormous mouthfuls of water and strain krill and fish through baleen plates — keratin fringes hanging from the upper jaw. They lunge-feed in productive upwellings and may cooperate loosely to concentrate prey.

## Asymmetric coloration

The right lower jaw is white, the left dark — a unique asymmetry whose function is debated, possibly related to corralling prey while swimming on their side. A prominent dorsal fin set far back gives a sleek profile unlike blue whales.

## Migration and song

Fin whales migrate between high-latitude feeding grounds and lower-latitude breeding areas. Their low-frequency vocalisations carry hundreds of kilometres underwater and may help navigation or mate finding across ocean basins.

## Recovery from whaling

Industrial whaling decimated fin whales in the 20th century. Listed Vulnerable, populations are increasing in the North Atlantic and Southern Ocean where hunting has largely ceased, but ship strikes and entanglement remain significant threats.

## Frequently asked questions

### How big is a fin whale?

Up to about 25 m and 70 tonnes — second only to the blue whale among all animals.

### Fin whale vs blue whale?

Blue whales are larger with a mottled blue-grey body and small dorsal fin. Fin whales are slightly smaller, faster, with a swept-back dorsal fin and asymmetric jaw.

### Why is the jaw two colours?

The white right lower jaw may help fin whales see prey when rolling to feed on their right side — though the exact reason is not fully confirmed.

### Are fin whales still hunted?

Commercial whaling is banned internationally, though Iceland and Japan have taken fin whales in limited numbers. Most populations are recovering under protection.

### What do fin whales eat?

Mainly krill in cold waters and small schooling fish such as herring and sand lance, filtered through baleen.

## Sources

- [IUCN Red List — Balaenoptera physalus.](https://www.iucnredlist.org/search?query=Balaenoptera%20physalus&searchType=species)
- [Animal Diversity Web — Balaenoptera physalus. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.](https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Balaenoptera_physalus/)
- [Wikipedia — Fin Whale.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fin_whale)

---
Source: Global Animal Guide (https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/fin-whale/). Licensed CC BY-NC 4.0 — free for non-commercial reuse with attribution.