How do baleen whales feed on Antarctic krill?

Baleen whales are filter feeders that rely on specialized structures to consume Antarctic krill in large quantities.12

Instead of teeth, these whales possess rows of long, comb-like baleen plates made of keratin that hang from the roof of their mouths. To feed, a whale takes in a massive mouthful of water containing dense schools of krill. It then uses its baleen plates as a net, straining the water out while the bristly, hairlike fibers on the inner edges of the plates trap the krill inside.132

This efficient feeding strategy allows baleen whales to consume vast amounts of biomass—sometimes a ton or more of krill in just a few minutes. Some species, such as the humpback whale, further enhance their feeding success through cooperative strategies like bubble netting, where they blow bubbles to concentrate prey into a smaller area before swimming through to feed.21