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Last weekend, authorities discovered the carcass of a huge fin whale in the Mediterranean Sea. The fin whale, or Balaenoptera physalus, is the second largest animal species on Earth. It was 65 feet long and reportedly weighing over 77 tons, one of the largest ever discovered.
The length and estimated weight make it one of the largest whale corpses ever found in the Mediterranean Sea. The whale was discovered when a young calf swam in the port of Sorrento in what is described as a state of distress. Coast Guard officials said the ship stuck its head into the harbor wall on several occasions before retreating underwater.
Divers were dispatched and followed the calf underwater and discovered the corpse of the fin whale. Authorities assume the calf is the offspring of the deceased whale. Marine biologists were called in to determine what killed the whale. Fin whales can reach 85 feet in length and 80 tons.
They are considered an endangered species and are species that have been wiped out by commercial whaling over the past century. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says the biggest threat to fins today is collisions with boats. It is not known at this time whether a collision with a boat killed this particular whale.
Anyone wondering what the biggest animal on Earth is, it would be a blue whale. Blue whales are the largest known animal in recorded history and can grow up to 110 feet in length. The largest specimens weigh up to 150 tonnes. To put that in perspective, more than twice as long as a school bus and three times as heavy as a large tractor and trailer.
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