[Sharon]

The fin whale, Balaenoptera physalus, is one of the largest animals that has ever lived, second only to the blue whale in size.

The specimen in the photo weighs about 60 tonnes and is 20 metres long. It had got itself stranded alive in County Cork, Ireland in January 2009.

After the whale died, an autopsy was performed at low tide on the mudflat where it was beached.

The massive gastrointestinal tract was removed first.

Although whales are carnivores, they still have four-chambered stomachs, like sheep or cows. Look at the man getting right in there where the head is!

[Faline]

good pic and great info

[Eskeleton]

Poor Whale !!!

[papa smurf]

Looks like a theme park ride..

[kolsch]

technically it's a necropsy if it's an animal. not sure if that changes when the animal is larger than my flat.

[calabera]

whales?

[ImAFuckHead]

Do you think they'll eat it later?

[Soar]

Thanks for including the info.

[StiffyWood]

Cool post Sadako!

[diamount]

I've been watching these documentaries where they do an autopsy on different animals that have died natural deaths, very interesting and informative... if anyone would like, I'll pm you the link to them.