Characteristics - Baleen Whales
Baleen whales, made up of 10 species, plus a recently described possible new species, belong to the suborder Mysticeti and do not develop teeth. Instead, they have evolved comblike structures in their mouths called a baleen (early whalers called it whalebone.) This dense fringe of blade-shaped, horny plates hangs down from the roof of the mouth and acts as a filter. Baleen whales feed mostly on plankton, which contains a variety of tiny crustaceans, such as krill and copepods. They normally feed by swimming with their mouths open or by racing forward and gulping in water and fish. A surprising fact: although these whales grow to a large size, their throat is only a few inches in diameter.
Baleen whales migrate every year up to 4,500 miles from feeding grounds in high
latitudes in winter to calving grounds in lower latitudes during the warmer months.
Like most whales, Baleen whales rely on their stores of fatty blubber during migrations.
A herd of Baleen whales can consist of large numbers of individuals many miles apart. Using a range of low frequency sounds, it is possible for the herd to maintain contact over long distances. Baleen Whale species include the Humpback Whale, Grey Whale, Blue Whale and Right Whale.
Copyright Whales, LLC 1996.