Explaining exactly how much a whale weighs is quite difficult to answer because there are currently about 80 – 90 different cetacean species, and each species is a different size and weight.
First of all, the cetacean species is divided into two groups known as the toothed whale and baleen whale suborders.
The large or great/true whales belong to the baleen whale suborder and possess baleen plates and bristles, while those that are smaller and possess teeth are part of the toothed whale suborder.
All species of dolphin and porpoise also belong to the toothed whale suborder.
While we don’t have figures on every animal in the cetacean family, luckily, there are a few facts that can help clarify this topic. At the end of the article, we’ll share some stats regarding the weights of some of the most popular whale species on the planet.
To give you a better comparison, first, we’ll talk about the smallest and lightest of the whale species, the dwarf sperm whale.
The dwarf sperm whale gets its name from its small size and spermaceti organ, which is located in its head and is believed to help it stabilize in the water; And yes, this whale belongs to the sperm whale family, the largest marine mammal in the toothed whale suborder.
On average, this whale grows to be around 9 ft. long and, when fully matured, will weigh between 400 – 600 pounds.
In comparison, the blue whale (the world’s largest living animal) can grow to a length of over 100 ft. and weigh more than 150 tons.
The blue whale’s heart alone can weigh as much if not more than a fully grown dwarf sperm whale.
In fact, some of the largest blue whales have had hearts that weigh as much as 2,500 lbs., which is equivalent to the weight of a small car.
The blue whale’s name comes from the fact that it appears a purely blue color when it is fully submerged in the water despite its grayish-blue skin tone when it isn’t submerged.
In general, toothed whales are significantly smaller than their baleen whale counterparts, except for the enormous sperm whale.
To give you a few more comparisons, here are some more statistics regarding the size and weight of various whales:
- The blue whale is the largest living animal on this planet and can grow to be over 90 ft. and weigh 150 tons or more.
- The dwarf sperm whale is the smallest of the whale species and can grow up to 9 ft. in length and weigh up to 600 pounds.
- The sperm whale is the largest of the toothed whale suborder and can grow as long as 65 ft. and weigh over 62 short tons.
- In comparison, Baird’s beaked whale is the second largest of the toothed whale suborder and can grow to 42 feet and weigh around 15 tons.
- Killer whale “aka Orca” is actually a dolphin. In fact, the killer whale happens to be the largest of the dolphin species (hence the name whale) and can grow to be larger than 25 ft. long and weigh over 6 tons.
- Maui’s dolphin is considered the smallest marine mammal in the dolphin family as it can measure 4 – 6 ft. long and weigh between 95 – 115 lbs.
As you can see, the length and weight of whales can vary significantly depending on their species.
Factors affecting a whales weight and size
When it comes to a whale’s overall weight, numerous factors help determine how much a whale will weigh.
Some of these factors include:
- How healthy, genetically fit, and large the whale’s parents were/are
- Growth abnormalities – In some cases, a whale may grow to an abnormally large size despite its genes
- The thickness and density of the whale’s blubber (some whales have been observed to have as much as 40% of their total body weight made up of blubber
- Whether or not food is abundant and easily obtainable in their environment
- The types of foods that are available for consumption (cetaceans that live in different habitats may consume different prey)
- The overall health and age of the whale
All of these varying factors can contribute significantly to the overall size and weight of a whale.
In fact, whales of the same species have been known to have large differences in size and weight.
For example, the average size of a blue whale is 70 – 90 ft.; however, there have been cases of abnormally large blue whales measuring in at over 105 ft. long with an unconfirmed record of around 115 ft.
Other cetaceans have also been noted for having large differences in size despite being of the same species and sex.
Size isn’t everything
The size and weight of a cetacean (whale, dolphin, and porpoise) doesn’t necessarily determine its food chain status.
For example, the killer whale, a toothed whale, and part of the dolphin family, is smaller than many baleen whale species. However, it is one of the only cetaceans known to hunt and kill other cetaceans, including whales larger than them.
In fact, even though baleen whales are typically larger than toothed whales, the types of foods these marine mammals often consume are often made up of tiny prey that can be significantly smaller than some of the foods toothed whales eat.
For instance, the blue whale is the largest of the baleen whale suborder, yet its primary diet consists of tiny krill that typically measure no more than 2 centimeters long.
The sperm whale, on the other hand, is the largest of the toothed whale species.
While these marine mammals are significantly smaller than the blue whale (20 – 50 ft. smaller), they are known for hunting and consuming large squid that can measure up to 40 ft. long.
One area where size may be important is in the area of being able to defend themselves or stave off attacks from potential.
Whales that aren’t particularly fast need to rely on their large size to protect them.
When a group of hungry killer whales is in the mood to attack a marine mammal, they will often look for smaller, weaker whales that can be easily defeated instead of taking down a behemoth sized whale.
Even though their large size and weight may help deter predators, it is often the ability to form a strong social group/network that helps prevent them from being successfully attacked rather than size alone.