Science has so far determined that the blue whale has reached the highest life form possible on this planet. It's already a miracle that it exists at all.
Here are some curiosities about this animal:
They are the largest carnivores ever, forgotten even by T. rex. An adult blue whale can eat up to 40 million krill in a day. Whales always feed in areas with the highest concentrations of krill, sometimes eating up to 3,600 kilograms (7,900 lb) of krill in a single day.
Image: Watch the world's largest animal lunge for its dinner.
Not only the largest carnivore, it is also the largest living animal ever.
They can control their heartbeat like never before. Their heart rate is about 13 beats per minute. During a deep dive, they can reduce it to 4 to 8 beats per minute, and if necessary, even to 2 beats per minute. This allows them to perform better with lower oxygen consumption and cope with extreme pressure. When they surface, to replenish their energy, their heart can beat up to 37 beats per minute! A huge variation.
They likely reached the largest size possible for any living creature on Earth. Based on the above findings, scientists have performed calculations indicating that the blue whale is the most optimized form for a large animal. It is highly unlikely that there will ever be a larger animal on Earth, considering its heart is at the limit of what is needed to support a 200-ton animal.