Largest whale

The average full-grown blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) is around 20–30 m (65–100 ft) long and weighs c. 160 tonnes (176 tons), though even larger historical specimens have been recorded by both length and weight.

Heaviest: A female blue whale weighing 190 tonnes (418,878 lb) and measuring 27.6 m (90 ft 6 in) in length was caught in the Southern Ocean on 20 March 1947.

Longest: A female blue whale landed in 1909 at the whaling station in Grytviken in South Georgia in the South Atlantic was documented as measuring "107 fot". Based on the Norwegian fot (or "fod") being equivalent to 313.74 mm (as of 1824), this gives a length of 33.57 m (110 ft 1.6 in).

This also makes it the largest mammal and the largest animal (ever to live on Earth) by weight; however, by length the overall record in the animal kingdom goes to the bootlace worm (Lineus longissimus), which can reach up to 55 m (180 ft) long.

The largest marine animal ever killed by hand harpoon was a blue whale killed at Twofold Bay, New South Wales, Australia, in 1910 that was 29.57 m (97 ft) long.