Last weekend, officials discovered the carcass of a huge finfish in the Mediterranean. The finfish, or Balaenoptera physalus, is the second largest animal species on earth. It measures 65 feet long and is estimated to weigh more than 77 tons, one of the largest ever discovered.
Its length and estimated weight make it one of the largest whale carcasses ever found in the Mediterranean. The whale was discovered when a young calf was swimming in Sorrento harbor in a state of distress. Coast Guard officials said they bumped his head into the harbor wall several times before retreating underwater.
Divers were sent out and followed the calf underwater and discovered the body of the backfish. Authorities believe the calf is the offspring of the deceased whale. Marine biologists were called in to determine what killed the whale. Fin whales can grow up to 85 feet long and 80 tons.
They are considered an endangered species and are species that were destroyed by commercial whaling during the last century. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says the biggest threat to finbacks today is boat strikes. It is unclear at this time whether the whale was killed by a boat strike.
Anyone wondering what the biggest animal on earth is is a blue whale. Blue whales are the largest animal recorded in history and can grow up to 110 feet long. The largest specimens weigh up to 150 tons. To put this in perspective, more than twice as long as a school bus and three times as heavy as a large tractor and trailer.