Baleen grows continuously throughout the lifetime of the whale and the ends of the baleen gradually wear off and are replaced. Baleen plates are smooth on the side that faces outward and are frayed on the inner side. The frayed edge of the baleen plates are entangled and form a filtering mat that catches food as the whale engulfs mouthfuls of water and forces it back out through the baleen.
Whales that posess baleen are known as 'baleen whales' or 'mysticetes' and belong to the Suborder Mysticeti. The Suborder Mysticeti is one of two general groups of whales. The other group is the Suborder Ondontoceti or 'toothed whales'. Toothed whales—which include orcas, pilot whales, dolphins, narwal, and belugas—lack baleen and instead posess teeth.
Whales that have baleen belong to the Suborder Mysticeti and include:
- Northern right whale (Eubalaena glacialis)
- Gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus)
- Bowhead whale (Balaena mysticetus)
- Fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus)
- Blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus)
- Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae)
- Minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata)
Sources:
- Burnie D, Wilson DE. 2001. Animal. London: Dorling Kindersley. 624 p.
- Baleen (SeaWorld)
