Blue Whales mainly feed on krill and a research study published recently has found out that the largest of Earth's mammals have devised ways to save their energy while hunting for preys.

Large whales can be found in many of the world's oceans from the Atlantic to the Pacific. They thrive even in the cold waters of the Arctic.

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Before the study, it is widely believed that blue whales simply attacks large krill herds whenever they see them. But researchers have a tagged a number of the whales and have learned that such is not the case.

By analyzing their feeding behavior, scientist now understand that blue whales actually use strategy in consuming the most number of krills possible while exerting the least amount of energy and effort. These water giants can enlarge their throats to suck in more krills to their mouth.

The aim of the study is help protect blue whales, which are already in danger of extinction and to find ways to help them replenish their numbers.

One of the researchers, ecologist Elliot Hazen, said the study has answered the question of how blue whales with their enormous size can survive by merely eating on krill.

An average blue whale can take in more than 3,500 kilograms of krill everyday. The creature swallows the krill with water and then flushes out the water using their baleen plates leaving.

Despite the large numbers of krill they consume, blue whales need to exert considerable effort to find and get them. Most krills can be found in the deeper parts of the oceans and seas.

The research showed that the blue whales tend to reduce their feeding when krills are in low supply. But when their preys increased, the whales increase the number of times they dive for krills in order to get as much calories as they can from their food.

Diving for their food takes a tremendous amount of energy from blue whales, but if the krill patch is large enough, the energy exerted will be more than compensated.

The study has been published in Science Advances and the research was jointly conducted Oregon and Stanford University. Funding came from the American Naval Research Office.

Tagsblue whale, krill, whale feeding, baleen plate, lungde diving, Office of naval research, elliot hazen, rorqual whales, tagged whales, blue whales feeding behavior