The whale that swims with its mouth wide open is the blue whale. As the largest known animal on Earth, the blue whale has a unique feeding technique that allows it to consume massive amounts of prey in one gulp.
When hunting, the blue whale relies on its incredible size and speed. It searches for large gatherings of tiny shrimp-like creatures called krill, which are its primary food source. These krill often form dense schools that can span several miles in length.
Once the blue whale locates a school of krill, it accelerates towards them with its mouth open wide. This is known as a “lunge feeding” behavior. As the whale lunges forward, it engulfs an enormous amount of water along with the krill into its oral cavity.
Now, you may wonder how the blue whale manages to filter out the krill from the seawater it engulfs. Well, it has a specialized feeding mechanism called baleen plates. These plates are made of a flexible material similar to human fingernails and are attached to the upper jaw of the whale.
As the blue whale closes its mouth after the lunge, the seawater trapped inside is forced out through the baleen plates. These plates act as a sieve, allowing the water to escape while retaining the krill. The blue whale then uses its tongue to push the captured krill towards the back of its mouth, swallowing them whole.
This feeding technique allows the blue whale to consume an incredible amount of krill in a single mouthful. It is estimated that a blue whale can consume up to 4 tons (8,000 pounds) of krill in a single day!
The ability of the blue whale to consume such vast quantities of krill is necessary to meet its energy requirements. Despite its enormous size, the blue whale primarily feeds on these tiny crustaceans, as they are abundant in certain areas of the ocean. This feeding adaptation has allowed the blue whale to thrive and maintain its massive size.
The blue whale is the majestic creature that swims with its mouth wide open to capture its prey. Its unique feeding technique, known as lunge feeding, involves engulfing large amounts of water and krill into its oral cavity. With the help of baleen plates, the blue whale filters out the krill from the seawater, allowing it to consume massive quantities of prey in one gulp. This incredible feeding strategy is a testament to the adaptability and efficiency of the largest animal on Earth.