What do Whales Eat?

Whales are divided into two suborders — toothed and baleen whales — and each eats very different kinds of food. Toothed whales eat fish, squid, and other animals, while baleens eat plankton, krill, and other small creatures. Some studies have also suggested that human activities may have influenced whale feeding habits and the diet of whales, judging from reviews of historical evidence and studies of modern whales.

Toothed whales, such as killer whales and pilot whales, are equipped with a large set of teeth, as their name implies. These whales have a diet that includes schooling fishes, squid, and marine mammals such as seals. Some species eat other whales and dolphins. In the case of killer whales, also known as orcas, the animals often work cooperatively to bring down prey much larger than themselves. Researchers have even documented instances of killer whales going after blue whales, the largest mammals on Earth.

Baleen whales are filter feeders that eat things like plankton, copepods, small fish, and krill. They filter their food through a comb-like structure known as baleen. Blue whales, minke whales, and right whales are some examples. Gray whales filter the sediment on the ocean floor to access the small creatures that live there. Blue whales can eat up to 8,000 pounds (3,600 kilograms) of food every day during the season when they feed to store up energy reserves for the winter. In the winter months, the animals survive on their blubber.

The stored energy in the form of blubber is common to many marine mammals. In addition to being a source of energy when food is difficult to obtain, the blubber also provides insulation which protects the whales from extremely cold water, allowing them to travel to extreme latitudes. Blubber has also been of historical interest to humans as a source of fuel; whaling was once a worldwide industry which generated tremendous profits, primarily from the sale of this tissue.

Studies to determine what whales eat can be conducted in a number of ways. Historically, anecdotal evidence from whalers was used to learn more about the diet of whales. In the modern era, researchers can sift through whale excrement to extract mitochondrial DNA, which reveals the identity of the organisms the whale ate. This method has been promoted by researchers who do not want to kill whales to learn more about them.

Baleen whales, such as blue and humpback whales, primarily consume small marine organisms like krill and plankton. They use their baleen plates to filter these tiny creatures from the water. During feeding seasons, a blue whale can consume up to 4 tons of krill a day, according to the World Wildlife Fund.

Toothed whales, including orcas and sperm whales, have teeth that they use to grasp and tear their prey. Orcas, known as apex predators, have a diverse diet including fish, seals, and even other whales. They employ sophisticated hunting techniques like herding and beaching to catch their prey, showcasing their intelligence and adaptability.

Not all whales eat fish. While toothed whales such as dolphins, porpoises, and some species of beaked whales do include fish in their diet, many baleen whales primarily feed on smaller organisms like krill and plankton. The diet of a whale largely depends on its species and the environment in which it lives.

Some whales are capable of consuming large prey. Sperm whales, for example, dive deep into the ocean to hunt giant squids. These battles can be intense, as evidenced by scars found on sperm whales from squid tentacles. However, most large whales feed on smaller prey that they filter through their baleen plates.

The amount of food a whale needs can vary greatly depending on its size and species. A blue whale, the largest animal on Earth, can eat up to 4 tons of krill daily during feeding season. In contrast, smaller whales will eat less, but they still require hundreds of pounds of food each day to sustain their massive energy needs.

Whales do not typically eat plants or seaweed. They are carnivorous or omnivorous, feeding on marine life ranging from tiny plankton to large marine mammals. Their diets are adapted to the rich, protein-heavy resources available in their aquatic habitats, rather than plant-based materials.