Which whale species are classified as baleen whales?

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Baleen whales belong to the suborder Mysticeti and are distinguished by the presence of baleen plates—keratinized structures used to filter small prey from water—rather than teeth.123

The following species and groups are classified as baleen whales:

  • Blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus)43
  • Fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus)43
  • Gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus)43
  • Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae)43
  • Pygmy right whale (Caperea marginata)43
  • Right whales (genera Balaena and Eubalaena)43
  • Rorquals (genera Balaenoptera and Megaptera)43
  • Sei whale (Balaenoptera borealis)4

These marine mammals are characterized by a symmetrical skull and paired blowholes, which differ from the asymmetrical skulls and single blowholes found in toothed whales (suborder Odontoceti).3