Blue giants of the ocean, whales captivate our minds with their massive size, intelligence, and mysterious songs that travel through water for miles.
These magnificent marine mammals have roamed Earth’s oceans for millions of years, developing unique behaviors and adaptations that help them thrive in their watery habitat. From the tiny vaquita porpoise to the enormous blue whale, these creatures continue to fascinate scientists and ocean enthusiasts alike.
Ready to test your knowledge about these amazing sea creatures? This quiz contains 60 challenging questions covering everything from whale anatomy and behavior to conservation status and interesting facts.
The questions range from easy to difficult, so you’ll likely learn something new along the way. Take your time, think carefully, and see how many you can answer correctly!
Bing Whales Quiz Questions
Before you start, note that all answers can be found at the end of the quiz section. Challenge yourself to answer without peeking! Good luck!
- Which whale is the largest animal known to have existed on Earth? A) Sperm whale B) Blue whale C) Humpback whale D) Right whale
- How do baleen whales feed? A) By using teeth to catch prey B) By filtering food through baleen plates C) By swallowing prey whole D) By stunning prey with sound waves
- Which of these is NOT a type of whale? A) Beluga B) Narwhal C) Manatee D) Minke
- What is the scientific name for the order that includes all whales? A) Pinnipedia B) Sirenia C) Cetacea D) Carnivora
- How long can a blue whale grow? A) Up to 20 feet B) Up to 50 feet C) Up to 100 feet D) Up to 150 feet
- What do scientists call the hole on top of a whale’s head used for breathing? A) Blowhole B) Spiracle C) Vent D) Nostril
- Which whale is known for its distinctive white color? A) Orca B) Beluga C) Right whale D) Bowhead whale
- What is a group of whales called? A) Herd B) School C) Pod D) Colony
- Which whale has the largest brain of any animal? A) Blue whale B) Killer whale C) Sperm whale D) Humpback whale
- How deep can sperm whales dive? A) Up to 500 feet B) Up to 1,000 feet C) Up to 3,000 feet D) Up to 10,000 feet
- Which whale species is known for its complex songs that can last for hours? A) Blue whale B) Sperm whale C) Humpback whale D) Right whale
- What is the main threat to most whale species today? A) Shark attacks B) Human activities C) Climate change D) Disease
- How do whales sleep? A) They don’t sleep at all B) They sleep at the bottom of the ocean C) They rest half their brain at a time D) They sleep floating at the surface
- Which whale has a long, spiral tusk? A) Narwhal B) Beluga C) Bowhead D) Minke
- What is the purpose of whale blubber? A) Protection from predators B) Insulation and energy storage C) Buoyancy control D) Communication with other whales
- Which whale is also known as the “unicorn of the sea”? A) Beluga B) Narwhal C) Orca D) Minke
- How many stomachs does a whale have? A) One B) Two C) Three D) Four
- Which whale has the longest lifespan? A) Blue whale B) Humpback whale C) Bowhead whale D) Sperm whale
- What do scientists call the distinctive pattern of markings on the underside of a humpback whale’s tail? A) Fingerprint B) Fluke pattern C) Tail signature D) Caudal marking
- Which whale is known as the “canary of the sea” due to its vocal nature? A) Beluga B) Humpback C) Bowhead D) Blue whale
- What is the average gestation period for most whale species? A) 3-6 months B) 9-12 months C) 12-16 months D) 18-24 months
- Which whale has teeth instead of baleen? A) Blue whale B) Humpback whale C) Right whale D) Sperm whale
- What is the main food source for blue whales? A) Fish B) Squid C) Krill D) Plankton
- Which whale species is known for bubble-net feeding? A) Orca B) Humpback C) Blue whale D) Sperm whale
- How do whales communicate over long distances? A) Visual signals B) Sound waves C) Chemical signals D) Electric pulses
- Which is the fastest whale species? A) Killer whale B) Fin whale C) Blue whale D) Sperm whale
- What was the main product obtained from whales during the commercial whaling era? A) Meat B) Blubber C) Oil D) Bone
- Which whale has the largest teeth of any animal? A) Killer whale B) Sperm whale C) Beluga D) Narwhal
- What is the average weight of a blue whale’s heart? A) 50 pounds B) 100 pounds C) 400 pounds D) 1,000 pounds
- Which whale species is known for spy-hopping (raising its head vertically out of the water)? A) Humpback whale B) Grey whale C) Killer whale D) All of the above
- How many blowholes do baleen whales have? A) One B) Two C) Three D) Four
- Which whale has a distinctive heart-shaped blow (spray) when it surfaces? A) Right whale B) Blue whale C) Humpback whale D) Grey whale
- What is the purpose of a whale’s dorsal fin? A) Defense against predators B) Stability and temperature regulation C) Attracting mates D) Catching prey
- Which of these is NOT a baleen whale? A) Humpback whale B) Blue whale C) Sperm whale D) Right whale
- How fast can blue whales swim at top speed? A) 5 mph B) 15 mph C) 30 mph D) 45 mph
- Which whale species is known for lobtailing (slapping its tail on the water surface)? A) Humpback B) Right whale C) Blue whale D) Both A and B
- What is the average lifespan of a blue whale? A) 20-30 years B) 40-60 years C) 80-90 years D) Over 100 years
- Which part of their body do male humpback whales often use in competitive displays? A) Flippers B) Flukes (tail) C) Head D) Pectoral fins
- What is the purpose of the melon in toothed whales? A) Food storage B) Echolocation C) Buoyancy control D) Temperature regulation
- Which whale species is known for breaching (jumping out of the water)? A) Humpback B) Right whale C) Sperm whale D) All of the above
- How many species of great whales exist today? A) 5 B) 8 C) 13 D) 20
- Which whale has the longest baleen plates? A) Blue whale B) Bowhead whale C) Right whale D) Fin whale
- What is the typical social structure of orcas (killer whales)? A) Solitary B) Pairs C) Matriarchal pods D) Bachelor groups
- Which whale species was hunted to near extinction for its oil-rich head? A) Right whale B) Sperm whale C) Blue whale D) Bowhead whale
- What is the name of the fat-filled organ in a sperm whale’s head? A) Melon B) Spermaceti organ C) Ambergris sac D) Blubber pouch
- Which two oceans do grey whales migrate between? A) Pacific and Atlantic B) Atlantic and Indian C) Arctic and Pacific D) Antarctic and Atlantic
- What is the primary purpose of whale songs? A) Navigation B) Finding food C) Mating and social bonding D) Scaring away predators
- Which whale has knobs called tubercles on its head? A) Blue whale B) Humpback whale C) Sperm whale D) Right whale
- What is the approximate number of grey whales in the eastern North Pacific today? A) Less than 1,000 B) About 5,000 C) About 20,000 D) Over 50,000
- Which whale has a distinctive white patch on its lower jaw? A) Beluga B) Right whale C) Humpback whale D) Bowhead whale
- What is unusual about the narwhal’s tusk? A) It’s actually a modified tooth B) It can grow up to 10 feet long C) It contains nerve endings D) All of the above
- Which whale species does NOT migrate? A) Humpback whale B) Grey whale C) Bowhead whale D) Bryde’s whale
- How many bones are in a whale’s flipper? A) 5 B) 15-20 C) 30-40 D) Over 50
- Which whale was known as the “right” whale to hunt during whaling days? A) Bowhead whale B) North Atlantic right whale C) Southern right whale D) Both B and C
- What color is a blue whale’s skin? A) Blue B) Grey-blue C) Black D) Brown
- Which whale species feeds by lunging with its mouth open? A) Blue whale B) Humpback whale C) Fin whale D) All of the above
- How many gallons of milk can a baby blue whale consume daily? A) 10-20 gallons B) 50-100 gallons C) 100-150 gallons D) 200+ gallons
- Which whale has the highest risk of extinction today? A) Vaquita porpoise B) North Atlantic right whale C) Sei whale D) Beluga
- What is the estimated percentage of the original blue whale population that exists today? A) Less than 1% B) About 3-11% C) About 25% D) About 50%
- Which whale has callosities (rough patches of skin) on its head? A) Sperm whale B) Right whale C) Bowhead whale D) Grey whale
Bing Whales Quiz Answers
- B) Blue whale
- B) By filtering food through baleen plates
- C) Manatee
- C) Cetacea
- C) Up to 100 feet
- A) Blowhole
- B) Beluga
- C) Pod
- C) Sperm whale
- D) Up to 10,000 feet
- C) Humpback whale
- B) Human activities
- C) They rest half their brain at a time
- A) Narwhal
- B) Insulation and energy storage
- B) Narwhal
- C) Three
- C) Bowhead whale
- B) Fluke pattern
- A) Beluga
- C) 12-16 months
- D) Sperm whale
- C) Krill
- B) Humpback
- B) Sound waves
- B) Fin whale
- C) Oil
- B) Sperm whale
- C) 400 pounds
- D) All of the above
- B) Two
- A) Right whale
- B) Stability and temperature regulation
- C) Sperm whale
- C) 30 mph
- D) Both A and B
- C) 80-90 years
- D) Pectoral fins
- B) Echolocation
- D) All of the above
- C) 13
- B) Bowhead whale
- C) Matriarchal pods
- B) Sperm whale
- B) Spermaceti organ
- C) Arctic and Pacific
- C) Mating and social bonding
- B) Humpback whale
- C) About 20,000
- B) Right whale
- D) All of the above
- D) Bryde’s whale
- C) 30-40
- D) Both B and C
- B) Grey-blue
- D) All of the above
- B) 50-100 gallons
- B) North Atlantic right whale
- B) About 3-11%
- B) Right whale
How did you score? Whether you aced this quiz or learned some new facts about these ocean giants, whales continue to amaze us with their adaptations and behaviors. As research advances, we discover more about their complex social structures, communication methods, and intelligence.
Protecting these magnificent creatures requires global cooperation, as many species still face threats from ship strikes, entanglement in fishing gear, habitat loss, and pollution.
By understanding whales better, we can make more informed decisions about conservation efforts that will help ensure these remarkable marine mammals swim in our oceans for generations to come.