Do Whales Pee?

When it comes to pee production, whales are world champs. A single fin whale

fin whale

The fin whale is the second largest animal to ever live, in the entire history of Earth. Reaching lengths of at least 85 feet (26 m) and weights of 80 tons, this species is second only to its close relative, the blue whale.

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is thought to produce around 1,000 liters (260 gallons) of urine each day — enough to fill a 10-by-6-foot kiddie pool. Whales combine their champion urination with deep dives and long migrations.

How do whales pee and poop?

Whale poop is important because it transports nutrients from the deep ocean, up to the surface. "Sperm whales feed on giant squid and other deep sea creatures. So they'll dive more than a kilometer down." Then they come to the surface to breathe, and digest, "and as it turns out they poop and they also pee.

Where does whales pee from?

"It's energetically expensive to dive," Roman told Live Science. "So they shut down a lot of their internal organs when they dive, to become feeding machines. When they come to the surface, that's where they digest and that's where they release urine and feces."