What are baleen whales classified as?

Order – Cetacea

Cetaceans include all whales, dolphins and porpoises. The word “cetacean” is derived from the Greek word for whale, kētos. Living cetaceans are further divided into two suborders: the Odontoceti (toothed whales) and the Mysticeti (baleen whales).

Is a baleen whale a mammal?

Whales belong to a group of marine mammals called cetaceans. Marine mammals in the cetacean family include whales, dolphins, and porpoises. Baleen is a filter-feeding system inside the mouths of baleen whales.

What are two types of baleen whales?

Baleen whales include humpbacks, minkes, and blue whales

Of these, 14 are Mysticetes, or baleen whales. Baleen whales have baleen plates in their upper jaws, rather than teeth. The plates allow whales to feed on large quantities of prey at once while filtering out seawater.

What is a characteristic of a baleen whale?

Coloration. Most baleen whales exhibit skin color variations of black and gray. Some are countershaded: a type of protective coloration in which the dorsal (top) surface is darker than the ventral (underneath) surface. When lighting is from above, the animal appears inconspicuous.

Which animal is classified as baleen or toothed?

There are two types of whale; baleen and toothed. The key difference between them is the way they feed and what they have inside their mouth. Baleen whales have baleen plates, or sheets, which sieve prey from seawater. Toothed whales have teeth and they actively hunt fish, squid and other sea creatures.

Is a baleen whale a carnivore?

Whales, however, are carnivorous. Even baleen whales that are filter feeders consume small fish and crustaceans, digesting another large carbohydrate, chitin, from the ‘shells’ of their prey.

What are the types of whales?

Whale/Representative species

What are groups of whales called?

A group of whales is known as a “pod.” Other terms used for groups of whales are a “gam” and “school,” but pod is by far the most common name. The term “pod” refers to a group of animals living together. In general smaller animals are more likely than larger animals to form pods.

What order of mammals do whales belong to?

Cetaceans/Order

Are whales mammals or fish?

mammals
Whales and porpoises are also mammals. There are 75 species of dolphins, whales, and porpoises living in the ocean. They are the only mammals, other than manatees, that spend their entire lives in the water.

What are groups of whales called?

A group of whales is known as a “pod.” Other terms used for groups of whales are a “gam” and “school,” but pod is by far the most common name. The term “pod” refers to a group of animals living together. In general smaller animals are more likely than larger animals to form pods.

What distinguishes a baleen whale?

There are two types of whale; baleen and toothed. The key difference between them is the way they feed and what they have inside their mouth. Baleen whales have baleen plates, or sheets, which sieve prey from seawater. Toothed whales have teeth and they actively hunt fish, squid and other sea creatures.

Why is whale not classified as a fish?

Whales are mammals because they give birth to live young, they have fur (although it is very sparse on their body), they have lungs and breath air and they provide milk for their young.

Why whales are classified as mammals?

What Makes a Whale a Whale? Whales are mammals which means that, like humans and other land mammals, they have three inner ear bones and hair, they breathe air, and the females produce milk through mammary glands and suckle their young.

Do whales have nipples?

Whales and dolphins do not have external nipples, instead their nipples are enclosed within mammary slits. Upon stimulation of the calves nudging, the nipple is exposed and the calf positions itself such that the nipple is at the gape of the calf’s jaw for feeding.