Biology
How big is a blue whale's heart?
A blue whale's heart weighs around 180 kg, about the size of a bumper car. On deep dives it slows to as few as 2 beats a minute, rising to 25 to 37 at the surface.
Source: Goldbogen et al. (2019), PNAS; Royal Ontario Museum (2014).
Context
Around 180 kg, about the size of a bumper car. Goldbogen and colleagues recorded a wild blue whale's heart rate in 2019 with a suction-cup tag.
On deep dives the heart slowed to as few as 2 beats a minute. At the surface it rose to 25 to 37, as the whale repaid the oxygen debt from the dive.
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