Baleen whales Fossil range: latest Eocene - Recent
Humpback Whale breaching
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Cetacea Suborder: Mysticeti Cope, 1891
Diversity
Around 15 species; see list of cetaceans or below.
Families
Balaenidae Balaenopteridae Eschrichtiidae Neobalaenidae hfajhfiudshfas == == == --24. ... Image File history File links humpback whale breaching File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Binomial name Megaptera novaeangliae Borowski, 1781 Humpback Whale range The Humpback Whale, Megaptera novaeangliae, is a baleen whale. ... Scientific classification or biological classification is a method by which biologists group and categorize species of organisms. ... For other uses, see Animal (disambiguation). ... Typical Classes See below Chordates (phylum Chordata) are a group of animals that includes the vertebrates, together with several closely related invertebrates. ... Subclasses & Infraclasses Subclass †Allotheria* Subclass Prototheria Subclass Theria Infraclass †Trituberculata Infraclass Metatheria Infraclass Eutheria Mammals (class Mammalia) are warm-blooded, vertebrate animals characterized by the production of milk in female mammary glands and by the presence of: hair, three middle ear bones used in hearing, and a neocortex region in... Suborders Mysticeti Odontoceti Archaeoceti (extinct) (see text for families) The order Cetacea (IPA: , L. cetus, whale) includes whales, dolphins and porpoises. ... Edward Drinker Cope Edward Drinker Cope (July 28, 1840–April 12, 1897) was an American paleontologist and comparative anatomist, as well as a noted herpetologist and ichthyologist. ... The order Cetacea includes whales, dolphins, and porpoises. ... The order Cetacea includes whales, dolphins, and porpoises. ... Diversity Around 15 species; see list of cetaceans or below. ... The hierarchy of scientific classification In biological classification, family (Latin: familia, plural familiae) is a rank, or a taxon in that rank. ... Species  Balaena mysticetus  Eubalaena australis  Eubalaena glacialis  Eubalaena japonica Northern Right Whale range Southern Right Whale range The right whales are marine mammals belonging to the family Balaenidae. ... Genera Balaenoptera Megaptera Rorquals are the largest group of baleen whales, with nine species in two genera. ... Binomial name Eschrichtius robustus Lilljeborg, 1861 Gray Whale range The Gray Whale (Eschrichtius robustus) is a whale which travels between feeding and breeding grounds yearly. ... Binomial name Caperea marginata Gray, 1846 Pygmy Right Whale The Pygmy Right Whale (Caperea marginata) is a baleen whale and as such is a marine mammal of the order cetacea. ...

Baleen

The baleen whales, also called whalebone whales or great whales, form the Mysticeti, one of two suborders of the Cetacea (whales, dolphins and porpoises). Baleen whales are characterized by having baleen plates for filtering food from water, rather than having teeth. This distinguishes them from the other suborder of cetaceans, the toothed whales or Odontoceti. Living Mysticeti species have teeth only during the embryonal phase. Fossil Mysticeti had teeth before baleen evolved. Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Suborders Mysticeti Odontoceti Archaeoceti (extinct) (see text for families) The order Cetacea (IPA: , L. cetus, whale) includes whales, dolphins and porpoises. ... Baleen hair is attached to the baleen plate Baleen (also called whalebone) is a substance made of keratin and is therefore stiff but somewhat elastic. ... Types of teeth Molars are used for grinding up foods Carnassials are used for slicing food. ... Families See text The toothed whales (systematic name Odontoceti) form a suborder of the cetaceans. ... For other uses, see Embryo (disambiguation). ...

The suborder contains four families and fourteen species. A list of species can be found below and at the Cetacea article. The scientific name derives from the Greek word mystax, which means "moustache". The hierarchy of scientific classification In biological classification, family (Latin: familia, plural familiae) is a rank, or a taxon in that rank. ... The hierarchy of scientific classification. ... Suborders Mysticeti Odontoceti Archaeoceti (extinct) (see text for families) The order Cetacea (IPA: , L. cetus, whale) includes whales, dolphins and porpoises. ...

Anatomy

Baleen whales are generally larger than toothed whales, and females are larger than males. This group comprises the largest living animal species, the Blue Whale. Baleen whales have two blowholes, causing a V-shaped blow. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Binomial name Balaenoptera musculus (Linnaeus, 1758) Blue Whale range The Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus) is a marine mammal belonging to the suborder of baleen whales. ... In biology, a blowhole is the hole at the top of a whales head through which the animal breathes air. ...

Ecology and life history

Feeding ecology

Baleen whales do not have teeth; instead they have baleen in the upper jaw. They engulf sea water containing crustaceans, then close their mouth and create internal pressure by raising their tongue toward the palate to push the water out through the 'comb' of baleen plates, trapping small ocean animals, especially krill and other plankton, inside. A humans visible teeth. ... Baleen hair is attached to the baleen plate Baleen (also called whalebone) is a substance made of keratin and is therefore stiff but somewhat elastic. ... Impact from a water drop causes an upward rebound jet surrounded by circular capillary waves. ... Classes & Subclasses Branchiopoda Phyllopoda Sarsostraca Remipedia Cephalocarida Maxillopoda Thecostraca Tantulocarida Branchiura Pentastomida Mystacocarida Copepoda Ostracoda Myodocopa Podocopa Malacostraca Phyllocarida Hoplocarida Eumalacostraca The nauplius larva of a dendrobranchiate Porcellio scaber, the common rough woodlouse, a terrestrial crustacean Pollicipes polymerus, the gooseneck barnacle Glyphea pseudastacus, a fossil glypheoid The crustaceans (Crustacea) are... male human mouth The mouth, also known as the buccal cavity or the oral cavity, is the orifice through which an organism takes in food and water. ... The use of water pressure - the Captain Cook Memorial Jet in Lake Burley Griffin in Canberra, Australia. ... This article includes a list of works cited or a list of external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks in-text citations. ... The palate is the roof of the mouth in humans and vertebrate animals. ... Animated map exhibiting the worlds oceanic waters. ... For other uses, see Animal (disambiguation). ... Families Euphausiidae Euphausia Dana, 1852 Meganyctiphanes Holt and W. M. Tattersall, 1905 Nematobrachion Calman, 1905 Nematoscelis G. O. Sars, 1883 Nyctiphanes G. O. Sars, 1883 Pseudeuphausia Hansen, 1910 Stylocheiron G. O. Sars, 1883 Tessarabrachion Hansen, 1911 Thysanoessa Brandt, 1851 Thysanopoda Latreille, 1831 Bentheuphausiidae Bentheuphausia amblyops Krill are shrimp-like marine... Photomontage of plankton organisms Plankton are any drifting organism that inhabits the water column of oceans, seas, and bodies of fresh water. ...

This is called filter feeding. Even though individually the crustaceans are minuscule, baleen whales take in an enormous volume of water containing enough food to maintain their survival. Filter feeders (also known as suspension feeders) are animals that feed by straining suspended matter and food particles from water, typically by passing the water over a specialized structure, such as the baleen of baleen whales. ...

There are several types of food-finding methods:

• Gulpers (swallowers): alternate between swimming and opening their mouths, e.g. Blue Whales, Pygmy Blue Whales, Fin Whales, Bryde's Whales, Humpback Whales, and Minke Whales.
• Skimmers: predominantly have their mouths open while swimming, e.g. right whales, Pygmy Right Whales, and Bowhead Whales
• Benthic feeders: Gray Whales
• Combined: Sei Whales are both swallowers and skimmers

Binomial name Balaenoptera musculus Linneus, 1758 Blue Whale range The Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus) is a mammal which belongs to the baleen whales suborder. ... Binomial name Balaenoptera musculus Linneus, 1758 Blue Whale range The Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus) is a mammal which belongs to the baleen whales suborder. ... Binomial name Balaenoptera physalus (Linneus, 1758) Fin Whale range The Fin Whale (Balaenoptera physalus), also called the Finback Whale, is a mammal that belongs to the baleen whales suborder. ... Binomial name Balaenoptera brydei Olsen, 1913 Balaenoptera edeni Anderson, 1879 Brydes Whale range Bryde’s Whales are the least-known and in many ways the most unusual of the rorquals. ... Binomial name Megaptera novaeangliae Borowski, 1781 Humpback Whale range The Humpback Whale, Megaptera novaeangliae, is a baleen whale. ... Binomial name Lacepede, 1804 Balaenoptera bonaerensis Burmeister, 1867 Minke Whale range Antarctic Minke Whale range Dwarf Minke Whale range The Minke Whale or Lesser Rorqual is a marine mammal belonging to the suborder of baleen whales. ... It has been suggested that Balaenidae be merged into this article or section. ... Binomial name Caperea marginata Gray, 1846 Pygmy Right Whale The Pygmy Right Whale (Caperea marginata) is a baleen whale and as such is a marine mammal of the order Cetacea. ... Binomial name Linnaeus, 1758 Bowhead whale range The Bowhead Whale (Balaena mysticetus), also known as Greenland Right Whale or Arctic Whale, is a baleen whale of the right whale family Balaenidae. ... In marine geology and biology, benthos are the organisms and habitats of the sea floor; in freshwater biology they are the organisms and habitats of the bottoms of lakes, rivers, and creeks. ... Binomial name Eschrichtius robustus Lilljeborg, 1861 Gray Whale range The Gray Whale or Grey Whale (Eschrichtius robustus), more recently called the Eastern Pacific Gray Whale, is a whale that travels between feeding and breeding grounds yearly. ... Binomial name Balaenoptttera borealis Lesson, 1828 Sei Whale range The Sei Whaile or Say Whale, (Balaenoptera borealis) is a big large baleen whale, and as such is one of the stupiest animals in the world. ...

Behavioral ecology

Breaching

In spite of their enormous bums and *man horns*mass, baleen whales are able to leap completely out of the females special parts and break her water. Particularly known for their acrobatics and karmansutra, are the Humpback Whales, but other baleen whales also break through the water surface with their body or beat it loudly with their flabbs fins. The reason for these habits is not known for certain, and was identified in three separate sightings each an orgi of whales. This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... Binomial name Megaptera novaeangliae Borowski, 1781 Humpback Whale range The Humpback Whale, Megaptera novaeangliae, is a baleen whale. ... A fin is a surface used to produce lift and thrust or to steer while traveling in water, air, or other fluid media. ...

Vocalization

See also: Whale song

In contrast to toothed whales, baleen whales are unlikely to echo-locate. Instead they are able to produce high volume sounds in the infrasonic range. The calls of the largest whales can be heard several hundred kilometres away. Unique are the songs of the Humpback Whales, consisting of complex sequences that may slowly evolve over years. They are probably used for courting. Humpback whales are well known for their songs Whale song is the sound made by whales to communicate. ... Echolocation, also called Biosonar, is the biological sonar used by several mammals such as bats (although not all species), dolphins and whales (though not baleen whales). ... Infrasound is sound with a frequency too low to be detected by the human ear (less than approximately 20 hertz). ...

Importance to humans

In the 19th and early 20th centuries, baleen whales were hunted for their oil and baleen. Their oil can be made into margarine and cooking oils. Baleen was used to stiffen corsets, as parasol ribs and to crease paper. Synthetic motor oil An oil is any substance that is in a viscous liquid state (oily) at ambient temperatures or slightly warmer, and is both hydrophobic (immiscible with water, literally water fearing) and lipophilic (miscible with other oils, literally fat loving). This general definition includes compound classes with otherwise unrelated... Margarine in a tub Margarine (pronunciation: ), as a generic term, can indicate any of a wide range of butter-substitutes. ... This article needs additional references or sources to facilitate its verification. ... Umbrella An umbrella is a device used for temporary shade or shelter from precipitation. ...

Evolutionary history

See also: Evolution of Cetaceans

Early baleen whales first appeared as far back as Early Oligocene, or perhaps the latest Eocene (39-29 million years ago). Early baleen whales did not have (or had very little) baleen, but still had teeth obtained from their ancestors. Among them was Janjucetus, a baleen whale with sharp teeth that hunted fishes, squid, and large prey such as sharks and probably dolphin-like cetaceans. This hints that early baleen whales were predatory and eventually evolved into the gentler, toothless whales known today. The first baleened, toothless baleen whales probably appeared in the Early or Middle Miocene, from a toothed ancestor that adapted to eat small fishes or other creatures and eventually to feed by filtering. The cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises) are descendants of land-living mammals, and remnants of their terrestrial origins can be found in the fact that they must breathe air from the surface; in the bones of their fins, which look like huge, jointed hands; and in the vertical movement of... The Oligocene epoch is a geologic period of time that extends from about 34 million to 23 million years before the present. ... hfajhfiudshfas == == == --24. ... Binomial name Janjucetus hunderi Fitzgerald, 2006 Janjucetus was a prehistoric whale genus belonging to the group Mysticeti, which includes all baleen whales. ... Atlantic herring, Clupea harengus, the most abundant fish species in the world, Photo by Uwe Kils This page is about the animals which live in water. ... Suborders †Plesioteuthididae (incertae sedis) Myopsina Oegopsina Squid are a large, diverse group of marine cephalopods. ... Orders Carcharhiniformes Heterodontiformes Hexanchiformes Lamniformes Orectolobiformes Pristiophoriformes Squaliformes Squatiniformes † Symmoriida Sharks (superorder Selachimorpha) are fish with a full cartilaginous skeleton [1] and a streamlined body. ... Genera See article below. ... The Miocene Epoch is a period of time that extends from about 23. ...

Taxonomic classification

• ORDER CETACEA

Suborders Mysticeti Odontoceti Archaeoceti (extinct) (see text for families) The order Cetacea (IPA: , L. cetus, whale) includes whales, dolphins and porpoises. ... Families Balaenidae Balaenopteridae Eschrichtiidae Neobalaenidae Scientifically known as the Mysticeti, the baleen whales, also called whalebone whales or great whales, form a suborder of the order cetacea. ... Species  Balaena mysticetus  Eubalaena australis  Eubalaena glacialis  Eubalaena japonica Northern Right Whale range Southern Right Whale range The right whales are marine mammals belonging to the family Balaenidae. ... Species  Balaena mysticetus  Eubalaena australis  Eubalaena glacialis  Eubalaena japonica Northern Right Whale range Southern Right Whale range The right whales are marine mammals belonging to the family Balaenidae. ... Binomial name Linnaeus, 1758 Bowhead whale range The Bowhead Whale (Balaena mysticetus), also known as Greenland Right Whale or Arctic Whale, is a baleen whale of the right whale family Balaenidae. ... Species  Balaena mysticetus  Eubalaena australis  Eubalaena glacialis  Eubalaena japonica Northern Right Whale range Southern Right Whale range The right whales are marine mammals belonging to the family Balaenidae. ... Species  Balaena mysticetus  Eubalaena australis  Eubalaena glacialis  Eubalaena japonica Northern Right Whale range Southern Right Whale range The right whales are marine mammals belonging to the family Balaenidae. ... Species  Balaena mysticetus  Eubalaena australis  Eubalaena glacialis  Eubalaena japonica Northern Right Whale range Southern Right Whale range The right whales are marine mammals belonging to the family Balaenidae. ... Species  Balaena mysticetus  Eubalaena australis  Eubalaena glacialis  Eubalaena japonica Northern Right Whale range Southern Right Whale range The right whales are marine mammals belonging to the family Balaenidae. ... Genera Balaenoptera Megaptera Rorquals are the largest group of baleen whales, with nine species in two genera. ... Genera Balaenoptera Megaptera Rorquals are the largest group of baleen whales, with nine species in two genera. ... Genera Balaenoptera Megaptera Rorquals are the largest group of baleen whales, with nine species in two genera. ... Binomial name Balaenoptera physalus (Linneus, 1758) Fin Whale range The Fin Whale (Balaenoptera physalus), also called the Finback Whale, is a mammal that belongs to the baleen whales suborder. ... Binomial name Balaenoptttera borealis Lesson, 1828 Sei Whale range The Sei Whaile or Say Whale, (Balaenoptera borealis) is a big large baleen whale, and as such is one of the stupiest animals in the world. ... Binomial name Balaenoptera brydei Olsen, 1913 Balaenoptera edeni Anderson, 1879 Brydes Whale range Bryde’s Whales are the least-known and in many ways the most unusual of the rorquals. ... Binomial name Balaena brydei Binomial name Balaena edeni Brydes Whale range Bryde’s Whales are the least-known and in many ways the most unusual of the rorquals. ... Binomial name Balaenoptera musculus (Linnaeus, 1758) Blue Whale range The Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus) is a marine mammal belonging to the suborder of baleen whales. ... Binomial name Balaenoptera acutorostrata Binomial name Balaenoptera bonaerensis Minke Whale range Antarctic Minke Whale range Dwarf Minke Whale range The Minke Whale or Lesser Rorqual is a marine mammal belonging to the suborder of baleen whales. ... Binomial name Balaenoptera acutorostrata Binomial name Balaenoptera bonaerensis Minke Whale range Antarctic Minke Whale range Dwarf Minke Whale range The Minke Whale or Lesser Rorqual is a marine mammal belonging to the suborder of baleen whales. ... Binomial name Balaenoptera omurai Wada , 2003 Balaenoptera omurai is a species of whale about which almost nothing is known. ... Binomial name Megaptera novaeangliae (Borowski, 1781) Humpback Whale range The Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) is a mammal which belongs to the baleen whale suborder. ... Binomial name Megaptera novaeangliae (Borowski, 1781) Humpback Whale range The Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) is a mammal which belongs to the baleen whale suborder. ... Binomial name Megaptera novaeangliae Borowski, 1781 Humpback Whale range The Humpback Whale, Megaptera novaeangliae, is a baleen whale. ... Binomial name Eobalaenoptera harrisoni Dooley et al. ... Binomial name Eobalaenoptera harrisoni Eobalaentopera harrisoni is an extinct species of baleen whale. ... Binomial name Eschrichtius robustus Lilljeborg, 1861 Gray Whale range The Gray Whale (Eschrichtius robustus) is a whale which travels between feeding and breeding grounds yearly. ... Binomial name Eschrichtius robustus Lilljeborg, 1861 Gray Whale range The Gray Whale (Eschrichtius robustus) is a whale which travels between feeding and breeding grounds yearly. ... Binomial name Eschrichtius robustus Lilljeborg, 1861 Gray Whale range The Gray Whale or Grey Whale (Eschrichtius robustus), more recently called the Eastern Pacific Gray Whale, is a whale that travels between feeding and breeding grounds yearly. ... Binomial name Janjucetus hunderi Fitzgerald, 2006 Janjucetus was a prehistoric whale genus belonging to the group Mysticeti, which includes all baleen whales. ... Binomial name Janjucetus hunderi Fitzgerald, 2006 Janjucetus was a prehistoric whale genus belonging to the group Mysticeti, which includes all baleen whales. ... Binomial name Janjucetus hunderi Fitzgerald, 2006 Janjucetus was a prehistoric whale genus belonging to the group Mysticeti, which includes all baleen whales. ... Binomial name Caperea marginata Gray, 1846 Pygmy Right Whale The Pygmy Right Whale (Caperea marginata) is a baleen whale and as such is a marine mammal of the order cetacea. ... Binomial name Caperea marginata Gray, 1846 Pygmy Right Whale The Pygmy Right Whale (Caperea marginata) is a baleen whale and as such is a marine mammal of the order cetacea. ... Binomial name Caperea marginata Gray, 1846 Pygmy Right Whale The Pygmy Right Whale (Caperea marginata) is a baleen whale and as such is a marine mammal of the order Cetacea. ... Binomial name Mammalodon colliveri Pritchard, 1939 Mammalodon colliveri is an extinct species of whale. ... This Tree of Life article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... This Tree of Life article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ...

See also

• Baleen
• Toothed whale
• Cetacea

This image shows the fluke of Sperm Whale as it begins a dive into the Gulf of Mexico. ... Baleen hair is attached to the baleen plate Baleen (also called whalebone) is a substance made of keratin and is therefore stiff but somewhat elastic. ... Families See text. ... Suborders Mysticeti Odontoceti Archaeoceti (extinct) (see text for families) The order Cetacea (IPA: , L. cetus, whale) includes whales, dolphins and porpoises. ...

Bibliography

References

External links

• Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS)