Endangered Species: Blue Whale
Did you know that the blue whale is the largest animal ever known to have lived on planet earth? In fact blue whale calves enter the world already ranking among the world’s largest creatures. After almost a year inside its mother's womb, a baby blue whale emerges weighing up to 3 tons and measuring around 8 metres in length.
The average lifespan of a blue whale is estimated at around 80 to 90 years and the oldest blue whale found was believed to be around 110 years old.
To celebrate the latest in our endangered species series which features the blue whale we’ve pulled together some more interesting facts on this magnificent marine mammal:
Scientific name: Balaenoptera musculus
Diet: Carnivore
Size: 25 to 32 metres
Weight: Up to 200 tons
Group name: Pod
Protection status: Endangered
Date of issue: 23 February 2011
Designer: Joel Kirk
Printer: Southern Colour Print
Value: £3.00
Process: Offset lithography
Stamp size: 70mm deep x 60.9mm wide
Sheet size: 84mm deep x 118mm wide
Paper: 110 gsm unwatermarked
PVA adhesive
Sheet: 10
Perforation: 13.145 x 13.145
Cylinder: A
