Here's a breakdown:
* Daily intake: A blue whale can consume up to 4 tons (4,000 kg) of krill per day.
* Feeding method: They open their mouths wide, engulfing large amounts of water containing krill, and then push the water out through baleen plates, trapping the krill inside.
* Krill availability: Blue whales migrate to areas where krill is abundant, following their seasonal movements.
While krill is their primary food source, they may occasionally consume other small organisms like:
* Copepods: Another type of small crustacean.
* Small fish: Sometimes, but rarely.
It's important to note that blue whales are highly efficient feeders, and their massive size allows them to consume enormous quantities of food to meet their energy demands.