Because Baleen Whales eat organisms that are on the food chain, such as Zooplankton (krill and Nektonic organisms), they are generally much larger than toothed whales and contain two blowholes rather than just one. Baleen Whales are characterized by having baleen plates for filtering food from water, rather than pointed teeth like in the Odontoceti. These baleen plates hang from the upper jaw, and when they inhale a large amount of water they separate the food from the water by forcing out the water between the plates. Most baleen whales feed near the surface and have been known to work in groups when feeding.
Types of Baleen Whales:
1. Rorqual Whales
Rorqual Whales contain 25-100 parallel ventral grooves that extend from the throat to the flippers (Enchanted Learning). These ventral grooves are essential to baleen whale feeding techniques. When they eat, these ventral grooves expand which allows them to take huge gulps of water and filter the food from the water, and then force out the water through the plates. Rorqual Whales have long, sleek bodies and a small dorsal fin. The Rorqual whales are divided into two subgroups:
Gray Whales have short coarse baleen and they lack a dorsal fin, a main determinant in differentiating different baleen whales. Gray whale is a bottom feeder meaning that they mainly eat Benthic crustaceans which is done by turning on its side and scooping sediments from the sea floor.
3. Right Whales
Right Whales are most easily identifiable by a dark patch on their head, v-shaped blowholes and short heads. They have long, fine baleen and no ventral grooves. Like the gray whale, right whales also lack a dorsal fin.
How do Baleen Whales Communicate?
Like Toothed Whales, Baleen whales also produce sound, however just at much lower frequencies. Gray Whales produce moans that are used to help get in contact with other gray whales. Rorqual Whales also produce similar moans to Gray Whales. Blue Whales, however, can produce sounds that are strong enough to travel across the entire ocean basin. Sounds from Humpback Whales have been thought to be a form of sexual portrayal.
Types of Baleen Whales:
1. Rorqual Whales
Rorqual Whales contain 25-100 parallel ventral grooves that extend from the throat to the flippers (Enchanted Learning). These ventral grooves are essential to baleen whale feeding techniques. When they eat, these ventral grooves expand which allows them to take huge gulps of water and filter the food from the water, and then force out the water through the plates. Rorqual Whales have long, sleek bodies and a small dorsal fin. The Rorqual whales are divided into two subgroups:
- Balaenopterids: Have long, sleeker bodies and small dorsal fins.
- Megapterids: Also known as "humpback whales", have long flippers, tiny dorsals and nodules that can be seen on the top of their heads.
Gray Whales have short coarse baleen and they lack a dorsal fin, a main determinant in differentiating different baleen whales. Gray whale is a bottom feeder meaning that they mainly eat Benthic crustaceans which is done by turning on its side and scooping sediments from the sea floor.
3. Right Whales
Right Whales are most easily identifiable by a dark patch on their head, v-shaped blowholes and short heads. They have long, fine baleen and no ventral grooves. Like the gray whale, right whales also lack a dorsal fin.
How do Baleen Whales Communicate?
Like Toothed Whales, Baleen whales also produce sound, however just at much lower frequencies. Gray Whales produce moans that are used to help get in contact with other gray whales. Rorqual Whales also produce similar moans to Gray Whales. Blue Whales, however, can produce sounds that are strong enough to travel across the entire ocean basin. Sounds from Humpback Whales have been thought to be a form of sexual portrayal.
Sources:
"Baleen Whale." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 12 Mar. 2014. Web. 05 Dec. 2014.
"Rorqual Whales - Whale Glossary." Rorqual Whales - Whale Glossary. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Dec. 2014.Trujillo, Alan P., Alan P. Trujillo, and Harold V. Thurman. Essentials of Oceanography. Harlow: Pearson, 2014. Print.
"Baleen Whale." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 12 Mar. 2014. Web. 05 Dec. 2014.
"Rorqual Whales - Whale Glossary." Rorqual Whales - Whale Glossary. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Dec. 2014.Trujillo, Alan P., Alan P. Trujillo, and Harold V. Thurman. Essentials of Oceanography. Harlow: Pearson, 2014. Print.