Portal:Cetaceans/Selected Picture/January, 2007

Diagram credit: Chris_huh

The baleen whales form the Mysticeti, one of two suborders of the Cetacea. 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 (Odontoceti). Living Mysticeti species have teeth only during the embryonal phase. Fossil Mysticeti had teeth before baleen evolved. 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.